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 Stafford, VA 22554

Stafford: median income $151,480, home value $521,400, $202/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waldorf, MD 20603 91%27$137,946$453,700$198 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Lithia, FL 33547 89%783$123,258$524,300$221 lower income ($28K less) · smaller
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 88%43$139,403$461,300$225 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Rockwall, TX 75032 87%1,130$135,742$491,300$198 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Kennesaw, GA 30152 86%507$126,578$427,500$191 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Land O Lakes, FL 34638 86%763$123,899$433,600$198 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Sykesville, MD 21784 85%73$139,395$491,800$256 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older homes
Little Elm, TX 75068 85%1,151$126,635$410,900$180 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Rockwall, TX 75087 85%1,130$129,484$435,400$186 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more single-family homes
Cypress, TX 77433 85%1,198$143,934$409,400$179 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · newer homes
Liberty Hill, TX 78642 85%1,281$132,958$506,600$196 smaller · newer homes
Middletown, DE 19709 84%117$132,956$470,900$205 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Odessa, FL 33556 84%772$149,722$625,200$266 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller
Castle Rock, CO 80104 84%1,470$134,335$624,200$222 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Severn, MD 21144 83%61$136,684$483,700$239 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Suwanee, GA 30024 83%477$143,879$551,000$207 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Wylie, TX 75098 83%1,134$122,089$401,500$188 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Richmond, TX 77406 83%1,212$141,869$406,300$170 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more single-family homes
Manvel, TX 77578 83%1,197$134,016$377,900$178 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · newer homes
Leander, TX 78641 83%1,280$135,024$480,400$196 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bel Air, MD 21015 82%95$137,281$443,400$211 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · older residents
Wake Forest, NC 27587 82%182$133,743$497,800$203 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Richmond Hill, GA 31324 82%503$122,378$386,600$197 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Midlothian, TX 76065 82%1,173$127,756$425,100$189 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Magnolia, TX 77354 82%1,177$112,504$397,300$162 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($124K 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.