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 Alexandria, VA 22303

Alexandria: median income $103,656, home value $552,800, $386/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Secaucus, NJ 07094 87%212$139,821$571,900$352 higher income ($36K more)
Edison, NJ 08837 84%189$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more single-family homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 83%130$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20017 82%11$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($150K more) · older homes
Rockville, MD 20852 81%18$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Highland Park, NJ 08904 80%184$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Quincy, MA 02171 79%399$106,885$662,900$512 pricier homes ($110K more) · older homes
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 78%128$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Waltham, MA 02452 77%396$118,431$808,300$429 pricier homes ($256K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 77%216$93,452$588,200$440 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 77%217$94,743$719,600$511 pricier homes ($167K more) · older residents · more renters
Washington, DC 20024 77%7$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Silver Spring, MD 20910 77%15$112,134$730,900$364 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger · more renters
Elmsford, NY 10523 76%233$118,438$588,100$449 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Towson, MD 21204 76%50$99,606$594,800$261 pricier homes ($42K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33180 76%904$91,055$501,000$330 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
Houston, TX 77079 76%1,224$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80237 76%1,484$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($30K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 76%1,966$92,851$554,400$388 larger · 12 min shorter commute
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 75%191$96,725$616,300$447 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Laurel, MD 20707 75%25$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Naperville, IL 60563 75%619$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78723 75%1,307$100,329$562,300$355 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Quincy, MA 02169 74%399$96,290$581,600$460 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older homes
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 74%218$107,396$448,000$448 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · 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.