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 Glenview, IL 60026

Glenview: median income $137,778, home value $694,200, $346/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alpharetta, GA 30009 86%584$126,510$640,500$317 cheaper homes ($54K less) · less walkable
Annapolis, MD 21401 83%627$123,381$601,400$331 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · older homes
Florham Park, NJ 07932 79%699$156,458$791,100$530 pricier homes ($97K more) · less walkable · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08691 79%698$132,520$552,000$305 cheaper homes ($142K less) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22315 79%604$159,805$618,100$346 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · younger residents
Reston, VA 20194 78%588$170,988$827,100$377 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · less walkable
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 78%589$144,313$715,800$302 larger · younger residents · older homes
Lafayette, CO 80026 78%912$120,187$705,600$310 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Fairfax, VA 22033 77%589$143,454$648,800$355 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Lorton, VA 22079 77%603$148,134$637,600$316 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Cary, NC 27518 77%653$123,488$632,200$257 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Blue Bell, PA 19422 76%664$158,288$611,900$274 cheaper homes ($82K less) · less walkable · older homes
Decatur, GA 30030 76%604$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Plano, TX 75093 76%795$124,563$670,500$259 larger · more single-family homes
Rockville, MD 20850 75%594$125,950$714,400$331 larger · younger residents · more renters
Columbia, MD 21044 75%604$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 75%888$117,724$582,400$386 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33609 75%1,020$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($89K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Mahwah, NJ 07430 74%706$131,327$606,000$427 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more homeowners
Centreville, VA 20120 74%586$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Cornelius, NC 28031 74%588$113,368$547,400$295 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Littleton, CO 80129 74%916$141,667$663,800$266 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Mukilteo, WA 98275 74%1,719$132,861$884,900$418 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 73%657$132,688$594,000$276 cheaper homes ($100K less) · less walkable
Annapolis, MD 21403 73%631$123,329$582,500$366 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · less walkable

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.