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 Hanover, MD 21076

Hanover: median income $146,869, home value $513,300, $241/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Albany, OH 43054 86%330$148,100$510,600$234 more single-family homes
Lorton, VA 22079 85%41$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($124K more) · older homes
Alpharetta, GA 30009 84%547$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($127K more)
Centreville, VA 20120 83%45$152,563$648,700$317 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · older homes
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 82%626$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($97K less) · older homes
Lone Tree, CO 80124 82%1,499$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($261K more)
Glen Mills, PA 19342 81%83$132,688$594,000$276 pricier homes ($81K more) · older residents · older homes
Ashburn, VA 20147 81%42$163,904$718,500$311 pricier homes ($205K more) · larger
Allen, TX 75013 81%1,186$146,891$590,700$223 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlottesville, VA 22911 80%117$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27614 80%245$128,834$577,400$231 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28277 80%362$128,627$560,600$269 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33626 80%838$127,118$577,100$289 pricier homes ($64K more) · more single-family homes
Carrollton, TX 75010 80%1,199$107,317$484,800$241 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Littleton, CO 80129 80%1,506$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($151K more) · more single-family homes
Exton, PA 19341 79%84$121,680$509,300$249 lower income ($25K less) · more renters · older homes
Leesburg, VA 20176 79%44$168,299$747,100$286 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger · more homeowners
Aurora, IL 60502 79%633$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Orlando, FL 32832 78%787$118,856$497,200$233 lower income ($28K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55129 78%919$143,795$534,900$199 more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78748 78%1,346$115,213$465,100$240 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Centreville, VA 20121 77%46$129,947$520,200$320 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Fairfax, VA 22033 77%41$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32827 77%787$117,483$662,200$284 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($149K more) · more single-family homes
Dublin, OH 43016 77%348$109,972$452,000$211 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger

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.