OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Silver Spring, MD 20906

Silver Spring: median income $97,521, home value $455,800, $250/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, VA 22309 89%25$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Des Plaines, IL 60016 87%603$86,571$320,400$241 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Marlborough, MA 01752 85%367$91,968$513,100$303 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Lansdale, PA 19446 85%123$106,310$441,100$257 8 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33186 85%947$93,462$465,400$338 more single-family homes
Bensalem, PA 19020 84%133$83,223$362,800$256 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Attleboro, MA 02703 83%361$99,152$448,800$316 smaller · more single-family homes
Parlin, NJ 08859 83%174$99,882$445,800$372 smaller
Boca Raton, FL 33428 83%899$88,543$466,900$312 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80227 83%1,491$90,316$559,200$266 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Milford, MA 01757 82%359$96,621$478,100$298 smaller · more single-family homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 82%166$121,071$433,800$319 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Schaumburg, IL 60194 82%614$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Woodridge, IL 60517 82%606$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Ossining, NY 10562 81%222$115,697$498,700$392 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · older homes
Peekskill, NY 10566 81%225$85,954$395,600$330 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older homes
Hialeah, FL 33015 81%928$77,339$421,900$333 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 81%914$85,000$379,700$262 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60656 81%601$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller · older homes
Old Bridge, NJ 08857 80%171$109,312$486,600$372 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Manassas, VA 20110 80%33$118,486$464,300$271 younger residents
Woodbridge, VA 22192 80%31$127,177$486,400$257 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($31K more)
Miami, FL 33173 80%944$88,271$479,500$368 smaller · more single-family homes · more walkable
Miami, FL 33193 80%946$77,839$450,500$332 newer homes
Carol Stream, IL 60188 80%613$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.