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 Burke, VA 22015

Burke: median income $172,563, home value $696,500, $346/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olney, MD 20832 94%27$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Blue Bell, PA 19422 88%143$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%205$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 86%160$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older residents
North Andover, MA 01845 85%420$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($36K more) · more renters
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%188$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($105K less) · less walkable
Ambler, PA 19002 85%146$143,600$602,100$292 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($94K less)
Canton, MA 02021 84%398$143,381$710,600$425 lower income ($29K less) · smaller
Wayne, NJ 07470 84%219$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Malvern, PA 19355 84%128$169,417$692,300$315 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 84%22$144,313$715,800$302 lower income ($28K less) · more renters
Naperville, IL 60540 84%608$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Franklin, MA 02038 83%384$145,773$611,700$343 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · less walkable
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 83%190$143,586$522,700$357 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($174K less) · 5 min longer commute
Wayne, PA 19087 83%133$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Derwood, MD 20855 83%25$149,110$640,300$297 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Ramsey, NJ 07446 82%228$160,996$697,300$450 smaller · older homes
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 81%379$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($104K less) · more renters
Andover, MA 01810 81%417$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($159K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Walpole, MA 02081 81%392$156,250$687,500$396 smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Randolph, NJ 07869 81%202$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Northbrook, IL 60062 81%601$143,323$632,500$312 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Westwood, NJ 07675 80%232$183,154$719,400$453 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Elmhurst, IL 60126 80%600$147,566$540,300$360 cheaper homes ($156K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 80%606$137,658$514,300$290 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · 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.