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 21704

Frederick: median income $161,063, home value $612,000, $227/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gainesville, VA 20155 94%39$164,279$659,100$252 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Leesburg, VA 20176 87%14$168,299$747,100$286 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Aurora, IL 60502 87%595$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($200K less)
Mars, PA 16046 86%169$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Bristow, VA 20136 86%43$183,750$615,600$235 larger · 6 min longer commute
Chantilly, VA 20152 85%32$197,156$766,200$279 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($154K more) · larger
Castle Rock, CO 80104 84%1,462$134,335$624,200$222 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Leesburg, VA 20175 83%24$174,854$780,600$285 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Dumfries, VA 22025 83%52$150,306$528,600$236 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older homes
Sterling, VA 20165 82%21$183,076$704,800$295 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 82%1,465$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($257K more)
Apex, NC 27539 81%263$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55129 81%882$143,795$534,900$199 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Glen Allen, VA 23059 80%112$157,897$593,700$238 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33626 80%836$127,118$577,100$289 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Roanoke, TX 76262 80%1,186$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Aurora, CO 80016 80%1,453$150,492$761,700$200 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Castle Rock, CO 80109 80%1,464$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($64K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Middletown, DE 19709 79%91$132,956$470,900$205 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Lorton, VA 22079 79%46$148,134$637,600$316 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more walkable
Fort Mill, SC 29708 79%357$132,018$515,200$226 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32832 79%788$118,856$497,200$233 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
Odessa, FL 33556 79%829$149,722$625,200$266 larger · more single-family homes
Lutz, FL 33558 79%828$116,090$520,500$239 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Windermere, FL 34786 79%786$134,214$684,400$308 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($72K more) · 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.