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 22151

Springfield: median income $156,015, home value $655,800, $350/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockville, MD 20853 96%21$159,080$631,900$302 larger
Oakland, NJ 07436 90%220$161,971$591,000$390 cheaper homes ($65K less) · less walkable
Denville, NJ 07834 90%204$156,902$555,600$418 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Clark, NJ 07066 89%199$133,504$609,600$413 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waldwick, NJ 07463 89%224$177,962$588,500$462 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Emerson, NJ 07630 89%226$155,536$645,200$413 smaller · older residents
Milltown, NJ 08850 89%186$141,601$470,700$410 cheaper homes ($185K less) · smaller
Babylon, NY 11702 89%244$137,652$626,900$455 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Colonia, NJ 07067 88%197$122,713$493,100$393 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($163K less)
Butler, NJ 07405 88%212$135,169$569,800$342 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Pequannock, NJ 07440 88%214$147,188$591,500$422 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Middletown, NJ 07748 88%198$152,981$600,600$413 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
White Plains, NY 10607 88%237$168,603$673,200$454 smaller
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 87%193$130,205$470,900$386 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($185K less)
Paramus, NJ 07652 87%223$144,349$813,900$504 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger · older residents
Thornwood, NY 10594 87%242$163,542$683,200$506 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Greenlawn, NY 11740 87%249$152,386$693,700$461 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Fairfield, CT 06825 86%267$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Hillsdale, NJ 07642 86%227$186,688$677,500$447 higher income ($31K more) · smaller
Farmingdale, NY 11735 86%241$139,443$591,500$501 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Broomall, PA 19008 86%128$119,698$500,300$274 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($156K less)
Springfield, PA 19064 86%127$136,893$414,500$286 cheaper homes ($241K less)
Bowie, MD 20715 86%28$143,732$452,600$257 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 85%212$151,625$633,900$422 more apartments and townhomes
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 85%228$171,029$706,200$429 pricier homes ($50K more) · 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.