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 Miami, FL 33180

Miami: median income $91,055, home value $501,000, $330/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls Church, VA 22041 83%907$92,636$452,300$311 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · older homes
Germantown, MD 20874 79%925$115,022$399,000$263 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22304 78%905$101,600$508,200$320 younger residents · more renters · older homes
Montgomery Village, MD 20886 76%929$98,542$386,500$236 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents
Alexandria, VA 22303 76%904$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 75%1,088$107,396$448,000$448 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Centreville, VA 20121 75%902$129,947$520,200$320 higher income ($39K more) · younger residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 75%791$100,697$613,600$349 pricier homes ($113K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20707 74%928$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Aurora, CO 80014 74%1,709$73,210$416,200$212 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more single-family homes
Silver Spring, MD 20904 73%924$96,025$560,000$247 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more renters
Scottsdale, AZ 85251 73%1,968$92,851$554,400$388 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 72%1,086$93,452$588,200$440 pricier homes ($87K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Frederick, MD 21701 72%946$106,577$435,000$230 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22312 72%905$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($103K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22306 71%902$97,132$594,000$343 pricier homes ($93K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Stamford, CT 06902 70%1,109$94,843$510,400$399 larger · younger residents · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55435 69%1,499$79,884$361,300$216 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19128 68%1,013$93,173$353,500$256 cheaper homes ($148K less) · younger residents · older homes
Rockville, MD 20850 68%923$125,950$714,400$331 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($213K more) · more single-family homes
Silver Spring, MD 20906 68%924$97,521$455,800$250 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80237 68%1,712$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($82K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Secaucus, NJ 07094 67%1,082$139,821$571,900$352 higher income ($49K more) · pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Reston, VA 20190 67%913$134,746$581,400$402 higher income ($44K more) · pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Laurel, MD 20724 67%928$118,115$426,100$266 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller

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.