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 22312

Alexandria: median income $109,272, home value $604,200, $325/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edison, NJ 08837 92%191$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 90%193$96,725$616,300$447 larger
Austin, TX 78723 90%1,304$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 89%1,490$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waltham, MA 02452 87%397$118,431$808,300$429 pricier homes ($204K more) · smaller · younger residents
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 87%129$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Charlotte, NC 28210 87%327$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85016 87%1,968$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Woburn, MA 01801 86%403$111,185$673,500$456 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Norwalk, CT 06850 86%253$123,633$581,200$390 more single-family homes
Parsippany, NJ 07054 86%202$104,214$587,000$387 more single-family homes
Elmsford, NY 10523 86%235$118,438$588,100$449 smaller
Conshohocken, PA 19428 86%132$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Laurel, MD 20707 86%25$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Houston, TX 77079 86%1,221$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($76K more)
Tacoma, WA 98466 86%2,330$101,778$602,400$351 more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10603 85%236$121,026$503,000$424 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more homeowners
West Harrison, NY 10604 85%238$117,014$735,700$479 pricier homes ($132K more) · smaller
Silver Spring, MD 20904 85%19$96,025$560,000$247 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 85%1,962$92,851$554,400$388 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Norwood, MA 02062 84%389$107,030$651,700$432 pricier homes ($48K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 84%213$139,821$571,900$352 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min longer commute
Edison, NJ 08817 84%188$110,808$431,100$411 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21209 84%46$91,437$440,800$215 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Atlanta, GA 30341 84%523$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($141K less)

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.