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 20910

Silver Spring: median income $112,134, home value $730,900, $364/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Emeryville, CA 94608 86%2,425$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($119K more)
Arlington, VA 22204 85%10$107,941$688,000$418 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Fairfax, VA 22031 84%16$134,577$723,600$356 more homeowners · newer homes
Denver, CO 80205 84%1,487$104,836$649,300$391 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60622 81%594$136,277$638,100$414 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 80%173$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60657 80%594$110,939$537,800$428 cheaper homes ($193K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80211 79%1,489$121,439$807,100$442 pricier homes ($76K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20024 78%9$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($204K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20002 77%7$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22302 77%12$123,539$631,100$441 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22303 77%15$103,656$552,800$386 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77079 77%1,232$101,995$679,900$339 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22305 76%11$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($134K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60614 76%593$136,448$720,400$506 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 75%200$139,821$571,900$352 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 75%160$137,607$704,100$404 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19130 75%120$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($239K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Washington, DC 20017 75%5$106,300$702,600$370 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Alexandria, VA 22304 75%14$101,600$508,200$320 cheaper homes ($223K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60613 75%594$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($340K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Denver, CO 80206 75%1,486$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($185K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Quincy, MA 02169 74%388$96,290$581,600$460 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Conshohocken, PA 19428 74%119$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($252K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22206 74%11$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller

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.