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 Leesburg, VA 20176

Leesburg: median income $168,299, home value $747,100, $286/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Leesburg, VA 20175 94%10$174,854$780,600$285 pricier homes ($34K more)
Sterling, VA 20165 93%12$183,076$704,800$295 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Ashburn, VA 20147 89%10$163,904$718,500$311 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Ellicott City, MD 21043 89%40$148,125$620,900$272 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Centreville, VA 20120 88%24$152,563$648,700$317 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more walkable
Lorton, VA 22079 88%38$148,134$637,600$316 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more walkable
Chantilly, VA 20152 87%20$197,156$766,200$279 higher income ($29K more) · 5 min longer commute
Gainesville, VA 20155 87%26$164,279$659,100$252 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more single-family homes
Frederick, MD 21704 87%14$161,063$612,000$227 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Windermere, FL 34786 85%773$134,214$684,400$308 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($63K less) · more single-family homes
Laurel, MD 20723 84%37$138,113$525,400$255 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($222K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30004 83%513$156,100$657,700$249 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 83%1,459$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($122K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Gambrills, MD 21054 82%47$163,825$611,000$251 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Glen Allen, VA 23059 82%100$157,897$593,700$238 cheaper homes ($153K less) · more single-family homes
Tampa, FL 33626 82%822$127,118$577,100$289 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
Aurora, CO 80016 82%1,447$150,492$761,700$200 more single-family homes
Franklin, MA 02038 81%379$145,773$611,700$343 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · older homes
Hillsborough, NJ 08844 81%178$153,556$547,700$340 cheaper homes ($199K less) · older homes
Roanoke, TX 76262 81%1,175$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($170K less) · more single-family homes
Newtown, PA 18940 80%156$157,414$655,000$316 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · older residents
Glen Mills, PA 19342 80%119$132,688$594,000$276 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($153K less) · smaller
Chantilly, VA 20151 80%21$158,271$676,800$317 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · more walkable
Raleigh, NC 27614 80%232$128,834$577,400$231 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($170K less) · smaller
New Albany, OH 43054 80%287$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · 5 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.

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