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 Springfield, VA 22150

Springfield: median income $123,114, home value $635,900, $335/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seattle, WA 98106 93%2,320$124,212$706,600$448 pricier homes ($71K more)
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 92%884$106,149$576,700$294 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Lynnwood, WA 98037 92%2,316$107,281$767,300$393 pricier homes ($131K more)
Norwalk, CT 06851 91%258$111,341$587,400$407 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Annapolis, MD 21403 91%39$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Chatsworth, CA 91311 91%2,301$119,386$876,400$464 pricier homes ($241K more)
Benicia, CA 94510 91%2,410$121,204$810,000$431 pricier homes ($174K more)
Tacoma, WA 98466 91%2,330$101,778$602,400$351 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Nanuet, NY 10954 90%232$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 90%1,484$107,422$535,300$249 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Sacramento, CA 95831 90%2,369$100,751$642,700$346 larger
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 90%2,318$107,687$667,100$438 pricier homes ($31K more)
North Attleboro, MA 02760 89%379$112,027$478,700$330 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Langhorne, PA 19047 89%155$109,530$467,000$285 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Portland, OR 97223 89%2,349$106,757$600,300$312 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Everett, WA 98203 89%2,313$107,376$608,600$359 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Tacoma, WA 98407 89%2,328$110,288$656,600$414 older residents
Danvers, MA 01923 88%419$125,395$644,200$428 older homes
Matawan, NJ 07747 88%193$124,383$485,600$372 cheaper homes ($150K less) · 7 min longer commute
Somerville, NJ 08876 88%182$122,884$485,100$359 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Martinez, CA 94553 88%2,410$124,130$825,900$473 pricier homes ($190K more) · larger
Stockton, CA 95219 88%2,370$112,268$581,300$270 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Roseville, CA 95661 88%2,350$105,925$687,800$366 pricier homes ($52K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Renton, WA 98056 88%2,312$113,688$797,300$467 pricier homes ($161K more)
Amesbury, MA 01913 87%431$103,554$519,300$385 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller

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.