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 Gaithersburg, MD 20879

Gaithersburg: median income $112,104, home value $468,100, $255/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Germantown, MD 20876 96%3$119,731$487,300$264 Very close on everything we compare
Frederick, MD 21701 94%20$106,577$435,000$230 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Frederick, MD 21702 92%27$106,983$426,300$223 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Manassas, VA 20110 90%33$118,486$464,300$271 larger
Beltsville, MD 20705 90%17$110,351$446,700$237 Very close on everything we compare
Laurel, MD 20707 90%17$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more renters
Laurel, MD 20724 90%21$118,115$426,100$266 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Frederick, MD 21703 90%20$106,334$384,600$221 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22309 90%32$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($99K more) · older homes
Haverhill, MA 01835 89%403$113,578$468,800$311 smaller
Bowie, MD 20716 88%31$125,034$429,600$250 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Columbia, MD 21045 88%19$118,563$453,700$255 larger
Pompano Beach, FL 33071 88%911$106,149$576,700$294 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Woodridge, IL 60517 88%598$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Burtonsville, MD 20866 87%15$140,308$446,900$241 higher income ($28K more) · smaller
Montgomery Village, MD 20886 87%0$98,542$386,500$236 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Schaumburg, IL 60194 87%606$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Westminster, CO 80031 87%1,479$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($67K more) · more single-family homes
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 86%169$121,071$433,800$319 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more renters
Germantown, MD 20874 86%6$115,022$399,000$263 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323 86%918$113,481$482,200$334 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 86%603$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 85%149$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Royersford, PA 19468 85%113$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Silver Spring, MD 20906 85%9$97,521$455,800$250 larger

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.

From OfferBacked · Free

Get matched with a local agent.

Buying or selling around Columbus, OH? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.

Get matched