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 22315

Alexandria: median income $159,805, home value $618,100, $346/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 87%25$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbia, MD 21044 83%35$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more renters
Ellicott City, MD 21043 81%39$148,125$620,900$272 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Glenview, IL 60026 79%604$137,778$694,200$346 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Trenton, NJ 08691 78%169$132,520$552,000$305 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Laurel, MD 20723 77%30$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 77%512$126,510$640,500$317 lower income ($33K less) · more renters · more single-family homes
Annapolis, MD 21401 76%36$123,381$601,400$331 lower income ($36K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Secaucus, NJ 07094 75%216$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Blue Bell, PA 19422 75%139$158,288$611,900$274 more single-family homes
Elkridge, MD 21075 75%37$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($163K less) · younger residents · more renters
Columbia, MD 21046 74%32$127,813$479,500$252 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($139K less) · smaller
Hanover, MD 21076 74%36$146,869$513,300$241 cheaper homes ($105K less) · newer homes
North Andover, MA 01845 73%416$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($115K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Mahwah, NJ 07430 73%224$131,327$606,000$427 lower income ($28K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 73%202$156,458$791,100$530 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Rockville, MD 20850 73%23$125,950$714,400$331 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Germantown, MD 20876 73%30$119,731$487,300$264 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($131K less)
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 73%617$124,468$416,700$241 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($201K less) · less walkable
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 72%163$125,514$428,000$294 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · more single-family homes
Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852 72%178$133,209$523,000$331 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Mount Kisco, NY 10549 72%248$133,988$668,000$425 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Crofton, MD 21114 72%31$141,344$490,400$260 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 72%893$117,373$573,800$350 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · more single-family homes
West Chester, PA 19382 71%117$132,091$568,500$282 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger

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.