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 Frederick, MD 21703

Frederick: median income $106,334, home value $384,600, $221/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Woodbridge, VA 22191 90%51$109,316$454,300$246 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Aurora, IL 60504 89%589$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Manassas, VA 20110 85%43$118,486$464,300$271 pricier homes ($80K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 85%916$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($116K more)
Dumfries, VA 22026 83%56$124,318$483,000$250 pricier homes ($98K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Tampa, FL 33635 83%837$86,894$344,900$241 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 82%175$121,071$433,800$319 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Royersford, PA 19468 82%118$108,534$402,800$246 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Newark, DE 19702 82%96$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Manassas, VA 20111 82%41$113,879$476,000$258 pricier homes ($91K more) · more single-family homes
Woodbridge, VA 22192 82%48$127,177$486,400$257 pricier homes ($102K more)
Schaumburg, IL 60194 82%587$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Woodridge, IL 60517 82%579$99,024$361,700$229 more single-family homes · older homes
Denver, CO 80234 82%1,460$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($146K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Carol Stream, IL 60188 81%586$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 80%929$85,000$379,700$262 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33325 80%931$100,553$455,000$348 pricier homes ($70K more)
Riverview, FL 33578 80%843$85,921$340,900$184 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Burnsville, MN 55306 79%891$100,515$374,700$187 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33190 78%968$82,533$404,900$262 smaller · more renters
Boca Raton, FL 33428 78%913$88,543$466,900$312 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55124 78%887$97,727$370,400$189 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Centreville, VA 20121 77%38$129,947$520,200$320 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Chesapeake, VA 23320 76%194$84,305$346,400$219 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Raleigh, NC 27603 76%261$90,484$383,200$209 6 min shorter commute · 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.