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 22152

Springfield: median income $165,906, home value $648,200, $327/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olney, MD 20832 91%27$168,524$627,000$290 Very close on everything we compare
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 88%204$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Blue Bell, PA 19422 88%141$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Ambler, PA 19002 87%145$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($46K less)
North Andover, MA 01845 86%419$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($85K more) · more renters
Newtown, PA 18940 85%159$157,414$655,000$316 older residents · newer homes
Ramsey, NJ 07446 84%227$160,996$697,300$450 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 84%250$133,988$668,000$425 lower income ($32K less) · smaller
Canton, MA 02021 83%397$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($62K more) · more renters
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 83%187$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Wayne, PA 19087 83%132$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($100K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Derwood, MD 20855 83%25$149,110$640,300$297 smaller · more single-family homes
Franklin, MA 02038 82%383$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more single-family homes
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 82%189$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Crofton, MD 21114 82%34$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($158K less) · less walkable
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 81%377$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · more renters
Wayne, NJ 07470 81%218$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Malvern, PA 19355 81%126$169,417$692,300$315 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 81%139$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller · older residents
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 81%23$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · more renters
Naperville, IL 60540 81%610$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more single-family homes
Walpole, MA 02081 80%391$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($39K more) · more single-family homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 80%201$169,497$665,700$351 more single-family homes
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 80%182$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · less walkable
Newtown Square, PA 19073 80%129$134,839$610,300$279 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents

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.