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 22310

Alexandria: median income $166,061, home value $659,700, $355/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blue Bell, PA 19422 93%137$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Olney, MD 20832 93%26$168,524$627,000$290 cheaper homes ($33K less)
North Andover, MA 01845 91%414$140,670$732,900$367 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($73K more)
Canton, MA 02021 91%392$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($51K more)
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 91%200$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Derwood, MD 20855 91%25$149,110$640,300$297 smaller
Newtown, PA 18940 88%154$157,414$655,000$316 older residents · less walkable
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 87%373$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less)
Franklin, MA 02038 87%378$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable
Ambler, PA 19002 87%140$143,600$602,100$292 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Malvern, PA 19355 87%122$169,417$692,300$315 pricier homes ($33K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 87%24$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Naperville, IL 60540 87%616$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Ramsey, NJ 07446 86%223$160,996$697,300$450 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older homes
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 85%182$168,696$591,200$369 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 85%184$143,586$522,700$357 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 85%245$133,988$668,000$425 lower income ($32K less) · smaller · older homes
Walpole, MA 02081 84%386$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($28K more) · more single-family homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 84%197$169,497$665,700$351 more single-family homes · less walkable
Wayne, PA 19087 84%128$171,179$748,200$364 pricier homes ($89K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Edison, NJ 08820 83%192$171,363$630,200$391 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 10 min longer commute
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 83%177$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · less walkable
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 83%134$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller · older residents
Natick, MA 01760 82%388$138,563$821,300$454 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($162K more) · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 82%200$156,458$791,100$530 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute

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.