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 Fairfax, VA 22032

Fairfax: median income $178,394, home value $799,200, $361/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Andover, MA 01810 91%416$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($56K more)
Randolph, NJ 07869 91%201$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Libertyville, IL 60048 91%608$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($248K less)
Westwood, NJ 07675 90%231$183,154$719,400$453 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Severna Park, MD 21146 90%43$172,122$659,800$317 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Deerfield, IL 60015 90%601$183,125$606,000$302 cheaper homes ($193K less)
West Linn, OR 97068 90%2,337$151,729$796,400$329 lower income ($27K less)
Medway, MA 02053 89%385$173,750$617,300$337 cheaper homes ($182K less) · smaller
Walpole, MA 02081 89%392$156,250$687,500$396 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Moorestown, NJ 08057 88%148$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Pennington, NJ 08534 88%169$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($226K less) · smaller
Ramsey, NJ 07446 87%227$160,996$697,300$450 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Highland Park, IL 60035 87%599$168,094$607,300$338 cheaper homes ($192K less) · older homes
Westford, MA 01886 86%402$187,198$748,500$371 cheaper homes ($51K less) · less walkable
Olney, MD 20832 86%26$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Barrington, IL 60010 86%614$177,566$638,100$255 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · less walkable
Southborough, MA 01772 85%386$201,568$841,700$354 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Reading, MA 01867 85%413$165,912$809,000$473 older homes
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 85%200$183,655$718,200$475 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older homes
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%187$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($208K less) · less walkable
Berwyn, PA 19312 85%130$204,384$855,000$376 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Ellicott City, MD 21042 85%39$190,061$706,400$274 cheaper homes ($93K less) · less walkable
Excelsior, MN 55331 85%935$159,450$737,000$273 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Denville, NJ 07834 84%207$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($244K less) · smaller · older homes
East Setauket, NY 11733 84%266$173,281$683,400$408 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · less walkable

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.