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 Lorton, VA 22079

Lorton: median income $148,134, home value $637,600, $316/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ellicott City, MD 21043 92%44$148,125$620,900$272 Very close on everything we compare
Laurel, MD 20723 91%35$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 89%29$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
North Andover, MA 01845 87%422$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($95K more) · older homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 87%888$117,373$573,800$350 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($64K less)
Trenton, NJ 08691 85%175$132,520$552,000$305 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · older residents
Hanover, MD 21076 85%41$146,869$513,300$241 cheaper homes ($124K less) · newer homes
Alpharetta, GA 30009 85%507$126,510$640,500$317 smaller · more renters
Germantown, MD 20876 84%34$119,731$487,300$264 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($150K less)
Elkridge, MD 21075 84%43$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 84%1,486$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($26K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chula Vista, CA 91915 84%2,252$139,503$781,500$456 pricier homes ($144K more)
Franklin, MA 02038 83%385$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more single-family homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 83%123$132,688$594,000$276 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenixville, PA 19460 83%134$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($182K less) · older homes
Olney, MD 20832 83%33$168,524$627,000$290 more single-family homes
Crofton, MD 21114 83%36$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($147K less) · less walkable · older homes
West Chester, PA 19382 82%122$132,091$568,500$282 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Blue Bell, PA 19422 82%144$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older homes
Columbia, MD 21044 82%40$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more renters
Tampa, FL 33626 82%798$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($61K less) · less walkable
Aurora, IL 60502 82%621$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 81%168$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($210K less) · older homes
Beaverton, OR 97007 81%2,355$123,533$608,800$288 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Bothell, WA 98012 81%2,315$146,144$876,600$437 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger · 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.