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 22153

Springfield: median income $174,228, home value $693,600, $344/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olney, MD 20832 96%29$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 90%188$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Newtown, PA 18940 89%161$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Blue Bell, PA 19422 89%143$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more renters
Walpole, MA 02081 88%392$156,250$687,500$396 smaller
Randolph, NJ 07869 87%203$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Ramsey, NJ 07446 86%229$160,996$697,300$450 smaller · older homes
Ambler, PA 19002 86%147$143,600$602,100$292 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less)
Libertyville, IL 60048 86%613$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($142K less) · more single-family homes
Naperville, IL 60540 86%611$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($143K less) · more renters
Andover, MA 01810 85%417$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($162K more)
Franklin, MA 02038 85%384$145,773$611,700$343 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($82K less)
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 85%206$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · more renters
Malvern, PA 19355 85%128$169,417$692,300$315 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Derwood, MD 20855 85%27$149,110$640,300$297 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Westwood, NJ 07675 84%232$183,154$719,400$453 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Deerfield, IL 60015 84%606$183,125$606,000$302 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Canton, MA 02021 83%398$143,381$710,600$425 lower income ($31K less) · more renters
Pennington, NJ 08534 83%170$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 82%379$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · more renters
Wayne, NJ 07470 82%220$153,056$612,700$382 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older homes
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 82%190$143,586$522,700$357 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($171K less) · larger
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 82%183$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($146K less) · less walkable
Wayne, PA 19087 82%134$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($55K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
North Andover, MA 01845 81%421$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($39K more) · more renters

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.