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 Stafford, VA 22556

Stafford: median income $137,287, home value $486,100, $226/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waldorf, MD 20603 95%31$137,946$453,700$198 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 90%50$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Johnstown, CO 80534 90%1,463$129,024$553,300$221 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · newer homes
Puyallup, WA 98375 90%2,315$117,074$522,100$263 pricier homes ($36K more)
La Plata, MD 20646 89%29$131,974$450,200$214 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Lithia, FL 33547 89%782$123,258$524,300$221 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Jackson, NJ 08527 88%206$115,487$485,800$299 larger
Palmdale, CA 93551 88%2,258$119,801$585,100$264 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Puyallup, WA 98374 88%2,312$112,662$535,300$284 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Land O Lakes, FL 34638 87%762$123,899$433,600$198 cheaper homes ($53K less) · newer homes
Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 87%624$117,151$321,900$201 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Bonney Lake, WA 98391 87%2,308$135,037$626,800$317 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Chester, NY 10918 86%263$140,550$459,700$263 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Waldorf, MD 20601 86%36$117,480$402,100$200 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 6 min longer commute
Sykesville, MD 21784 86%74$139,395$491,800$256 Very close on everything we compare
Manhattan, IL 60442 86%590$127,986$355,900$194 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
New Lenox, IL 60451 86%591$137,404$393,100$212 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Yorkville, IL 60560 86%618$110,326$346,300$195 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less)
West Grove, PA 19390 85%130$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Leonardtown, MD 20650 85%49$143,116$481,700$182 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 85%46$139,403$461,300$225 larger · older residents
Severn, MD 21144 85%63$136,684$483,700$239 9 min shorter commute
Westminster, MD 21158 85%83$109,827$384,700$223 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · older residents
Charles Town, WV 25414 85%59$105,500$391,700$180 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Woodstock, GA 30189 85%494$114,130$425,300$198 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · 6 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.