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 Elkridge, MD 21075

Elkridge: median income $135,303, home value $455,300, $246/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 86%623$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Exton, PA 19341 85%83$121,680$509,300$249 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · more renters
Centreville, VA 20121 85%46$129,947$520,200$320 pricier homes ($65K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Lorton, VA 22079 84%43$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($182K more)
Dublin, OH 43016 84%346$109,972$452,000$211 lower income ($25K less)
Naperville, IL 60563 84%625$109,783$435,600$271 lower income ($26K less) · older homes
Phoenixville, PA 19460 82%91$124,050$455,900$251 more single-family homes · older homes
Centreville, VA 20120 82%46$152,563$648,700$317 pricier homes ($193K more)
Fairfax, VA 22033 82%41$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($194K more)
Atlanta, GA 30328 82%559$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($107K more)
Fairfax, VA 22030 81%39$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($285K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28277 81%364$128,627$560,600$269 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · older residents
Carrollton, TX 75010 81%1,198$107,317$484,800$241 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Alpharetta, GA 30009 80%548$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($185K more) · smaller · older residents
Roswell, GA 30076 80%551$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Austin, TX 78748 80%1,345$115,213$465,100$240 more single-family homes
Broomfield, CO 80021 80%1,505$110,038$568,000$292 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($113K more) · more renters
Englewood, CO 80112 80%1,497$108,874$659,200$282 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($204K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 79%128$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · older homes
Royersford, PA 19468 79%95$108,534$402,800$246 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 78%142$133,209$523,000$331 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 78%148$121,071$433,800$319 older homes
Ashburn, VA 20147 78%41$163,904$718,500$311 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($263K more) · larger
New Albany, OH 43054 78%327$148,100$510,600$234 pricier homes ($55K more) · more single-family homes
Lone Tree, CO 80124 78%1,497$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($319K more) · 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.