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 Columbia, MD 21044

Columbia: median income $135,057, home value $566,500, $250/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22033 92%36$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($82K more)
Naperville, IL 60563 90%619$109,783$435,600$271 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($131K less)
Atlanta, GA 30328 89%554$112,111$561,900$236 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30338 89%549$135,148$611,300$249 pricier homes ($45K more)
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 88%133$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Reston, VA 20191 88%32$151,185$641,800$350 pricier homes ($75K more)
Exton, PA 19341 87%87$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22030 87%35$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($174K more) · younger residents
Decatur, GA 30030 87%557$126,830$631,500$328 pricier homes ($65K more)
Decatur, GA 30033 87%555$111,616$455,300$265 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Secaucus, NJ 07094 85%185$139,821$571,900$352 smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30009 85%543$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · newer homes
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 85%617$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · less walkable
Phoenixville, PA 19460 84%96$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more single-family homes
West Chester, PA 19382 83%85$132,091$568,500$282 more single-family homes
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 83%101$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($137K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Centreville, VA 20120 83%41$152,563$648,700$317 pricier homes ($82K more) · more homeowners
Fairfax, VA 22031 83%32$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($157K more)
Alexandria, VA 22315 83%35$159,805$618,100$346 pricier homes ($52K more) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30319 83%554$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($196K more)
Voorhees, NJ 08043 82%111$105,473$429,700$242 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · more single-family homes
West Chester, PA 19380 82%87$122,899$564,400$278 more single-family homes
Lorton, VA 22079 82%40$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($71K more) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30345 82%553$112,054$573,800$242 smaller · more single-family homes
Plano, TX 75093 82%1,187$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($104K more) · more single-family homes

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.