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.

Reset

Towns most like Alexandria, VA 22304

Alexandria: median income $101,600, home value $508,200, $320/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stamford, CT 06902 88%245$94,843$510,400$399 larger
Chicago, IL 60616 84%591$73,819$387,200$318 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($121K less)
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 84%1,963$92,851$554,400$388 pricier homes ($46K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80231 82%1,481$76,502$500,600$232 lower income ($25K less)
Denver, CO 80237 82%1,482$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19123 81%132$102,106$539,500$326 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hackensack, NJ 07601 80%217$84,277$393,700$388 cheaper homes ($115K less)
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 79%213$97,993$458,100$397 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Palisades Park, NJ 07650 79%217$94,743$719,600$511 pricier homes ($211K more) · smaller · older residents
Washington, DC 20024 79%7$107,411$526,700$367 smaller
Rockville, MD 20852 79%16$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($157K more)
Denver, CO 80204 79%1,488$84,829$620,500$401 pricier homes ($112K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10601 78%235$85,859$372,900$318 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19128 78%132$93,173$353,500$256 cheaper homes ($155K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Miami, FL 33180 78%905$91,055$501,000$330 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Schaumburg, IL 60173 78%616$104,390$372,000$265 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller
Oakland, CA 94607 78%2,424$94,863$720,600$426 pricier homes ($212K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Secaucus, NJ 07094 77%212$139,821$571,900$352 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Edison, NJ 08837 77%190$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 77%131$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80205 77%1,485$104,836$649,300$391 pricier homes ($141K more) · more single-family homes
Quincy, MA 02169 76%399$96,290$581,600$460 pricier homes ($73K more) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20707 76%24$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20877 76%23$92,800$474,800$268 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Silver Spring, MD 20904 76%19$96,025$560,000$247 pricier homes ($52K more) · more single-family homes

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.