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 Annandale, VA 22003

Annandale: median income $138,794, home value $732,400, $338/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wayne, NJ 07470 91%215$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($120K less)
Seattle, WA 98155 91%2,314$131,540$816,400$460 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Edmonds, WA 98026 90%2,315$133,638$821,700$450 pricier homes ($89K more)
Danvers, MA 01923 89%418$125,395$644,200$428 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Chatsworth, CA 91311 89%2,299$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($144K more)
Stoneham, MA 02180 88%408$113,964$671,900$437 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Media, PA 19063 88%123$127,368$548,900$303 cheaper homes ($184K less) · smaller
Martinez, CA 94553 88%2,408$124,130$825,900$473 pricier homes ($94K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20901 87%17$131,386$589,800$337 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
North Andover, MA 01845 86%416$140,670$732,900$367 smaller
Stamford, CT 06905 86%249$136,757$618,400$413 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller
West Orange, NJ 07052 86%207$129,475$556,800$394 cheaper homes ($176K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Annapolis, MD 21403 86%40$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller
Dedham, MA 02026 85%395$128,955$661,800$448 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · older homes
Braintree, MA 02184 85%401$122,214$656,800$428 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 5 min longer commute
Silver Spring, MD 20902 85%17$114,486$551,200$316 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 85%1,829$115,515$659,900$294 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Benicia, CA 94510 85%2,408$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · newer homes
Wakefield, MA 01880 84%410$134,306$723,500$468 smaller · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Caldwell, NJ 07006 84%209$149,102$694,400$434 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Morrisville, PA 19067 84%159$133,630$507,900$287 cheaper homes ($225K less) · less walkable
West Chester, PA 19382 84%116$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Golden, CO 80401 84%1,492$118,039$804,500$350 pricier homes ($72K more) · less walkable
Cypress, CA 90630 84%2,280$130,154$909,700$602 pricier homes ($177K more)
San Pedro, CA 90732 84%2,296$120,807$857,000$483 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · 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.