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 22033

Fairfax: median income $143,454, home value $648,800, $355/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, MD 21044 92%36$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 90%18$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Rockville, MD 20850 89%19$125,950$714,400$331 pricier homes ($66K more) · more renters
Secaucus, NJ 07094 86%220$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more renters
Ellicott City, MD 21043 85%41$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 85%507$126,510$640,500$317 smaller · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30319 85%518$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($114K more)
Atlanta, GA 30342 83%519$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($181K more)
Columbia, MD 21046 82%35$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($169K less) · smaller
Elkridge, MD 21075 82%41$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Decatur, GA 30030 82%522$126,830$631,500$328 more single-family homes · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30328 82%518$112,111$561,900$236 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less)
Bothell, WA 98011 82%2,301$131,667$933,000$486 pricier homes ($284K more) · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20723 81%34$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Rockville, MD 20852 81%19$122,472$665,200$359 more renters
Annapolis, MD 21401 81%46$123,381$601,400$331 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28211 81%318$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($126K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30338 80%513$135,148$611,300$249 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more single-family homes
Exton, PA 19341 79%123$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller · more renters
Naperville, IL 60563 79%602$109,783$435,600$271 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($213K less)
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 78%169$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($221K less) · more single-family homes
Germantown, MD 20876 78%23$119,731$487,300$264 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Englewood, CO 80112 78%1,468$108,874$659,200$282 lower income ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lone Tree, CO 80124 78%1,467$129,858$773,900$272 pricier homes ($125K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Hanover, MD 21076 77%41$146,869$513,300$241 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · newer 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.