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 Crofton, MD 21114

Crofton: median income $141,344, home value $490,400, $260/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodbridge, VA 22192 87%41$127,177$486,400$257 larger
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 86%148$133,209$523,000$331 pricier homes ($33K more) · more renters
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 85%149$153,556$547,700$340 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · older residents
Ashland, MA 01721 84%354$127,539$611,700$353 pricier homes ($121K more) · older residents
Somerset, NJ 08873 84%155$124,972$465,800$333 larger · more renters
Palatine, IL 60067 84%633$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Franklin, MA 02038 83%349$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($121K more) · more single-family homes
Clinton, NJ 08809 83%147$131,250$420,500$325 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Dayton, NJ 08810 83%149$151,902$496,600$361 smaller · older residents
Flemington, NJ 08822 83%143$137,788$536,900$310 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Lorton, VA 22079 83%36$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($147K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Aurora, IL 60502 83%638$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08691 82%139$132,520$552,000$305 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, VA 22152 82%34$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($158K more) · more walkable
Phoenixville, PA 19460 81%99$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Smyrna, GA 30082 81%563$120,372$438,700$200 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more single-family homes
North Andover, MA 01845 80%386$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($243K more)
Sterling, VA 20165 80%38$183,076$704,800$295 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($214K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Dumfries, VA 22025 80%46$150,306$528,600$236 pricier homes ($38K more) · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22310 80%29$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($169K more) · more walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 80%916$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 80%630$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 80%632$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Mansfield, MA 02048 79%354$125,273$603,500$353 pricier homes ($113K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 79%115$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger · older residents

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.