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 Towson, MD 21204

Towson: median income $99,606, home value $594,800, $261/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55416 92%936$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($133K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77079 92%1,265$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76109 90%1,246$100,507$630,800$269 pricier homes ($36K more) · more single-family homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 88%138$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older homes
Dallas, TX 75248 88%1,207$100,414$576,100$254 larger
Denver, CO 80237 88%1,502$85,705$582,500$241 Very close on everything we compare
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 87%81$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 87%422$94,774$503,100$264 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75252 87%1,206$85,000$580,600$241 newer homes
Austin, TX 78759 87%1,346$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30328 86%574$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75244 86%1,211$120,286$617,800$322 Very close on everything we compare
Portland, OR 97239 86%2,354$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($178K more)
Conshohocken, PA 19428 85%83$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Raleigh, NC 27609 85%270$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Troy, MI 48084 85%406$107,098$444,200$224 cheaper homes ($151K less) · less walkable
Boulder, CO 80301 85%1,514$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($198K more)
Charlotte, NC 28209 84%374$101,873$623,000$446 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Madison, WI 53705 84%713$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Houston, TX 77025 84%1,261$81,008$586,600$215 older residents · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43220 83%346$74,298$473,500$241 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($121K less)
Naperville, IL 60563 83%628$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · newer homes
Austin, TX 78723 83%1,346$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80205 83%1,504$104,836$649,300$391 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Exton, PA 19341 82%68$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($86K less) · newer 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.