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 Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Virginia Beach: median income $94,069, home value $418,000, $247/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waukesha, WI 53188 96%768$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55112 94%1,051$93,838$358,500$200 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Hatfield, PA 19440 93%239$99,408$438,500$258 smaller
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 92%544$89,185$452,700$340 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Burnsville, MN 55337 92%1,045$84,110$349,100$180 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Carol Stream, IL 60188 92%728$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Denver, CO 80227 92%1,575$90,316$559,200$266 pricier homes ($141K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 92%1,561$87,685$442,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19702 91%191$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($72K less) · newer homes
Maitland, FL 32751 91%646$95,387$453,700$291 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32819 91%660$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55118 91%1,041$87,340$350,600$205 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55122 91%1,043$96,823$356,600$200 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75075 91%1,194$98,365$428,000$219 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78232 91%1,382$85,273$362,000$188 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Longmont, CO 80501 91%1,574$80,911$488,800$270 pricier homes ($71K more)
Chandler, AZ 85224 91%2,022$94,516$438,700$298 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 90%378$100,027$337,300$242 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Lansdale, PA 19446 90%236$106,310$441,100$257 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19711 90%196$95,403$398,900$217 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43230 90%424$91,424$306,500$206 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Oak Creek, WI 53154 90%748$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Lombard, IL 60148 90%721$100,616$344,100$252 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 90%730$90,774$306,300$241 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Woodridge, IL 60517 90%719$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 7 min longer 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.