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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 Frederick, MD 21701

Frederick: median income $106,577, home value $435,000, $230/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Germantown, MD 20876 94%19$119,731$487,300$264 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Gaithersburg, MD 20879 94%20$112,104$468,100$255 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Columbia, MD 21045 94%32$118,563$453,700$255 Very close on everything we compare
Laurel, MD 20707 92%34$107,706$423,400$250 Very close on everything we compare
Frederick, MD 21702 91%7$106,983$426,300$223 Very close on everything we compare
Voorhees, NJ 08043 90%129$105,473$429,700$242 Very close on everything we compare
Lansdale, PA 19446 90%121$106,310$441,100$257 less walkable
Germantown, MD 20874 90%22$115,022$399,000$263 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 88%147$125,514$428,000$294 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55124 88%890$97,727$370,400$189 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 88%586$99,743$390,000$261 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Denver, CO 80227 88%1,472$90,316$559,200$266 pricier homes ($124K more)
Royersford, PA 19468 87%109$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · less walkable
Frederick, MD 21703 87%9$106,334$384,600$221 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 87%588$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Carol Stream, IL 60188 87%591$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($98K less) · less walkable
Woodridge, IL 60517 87%584$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Lisle, IL 60532 87%586$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · less walkable
Westmont, IL 60559 87%580$90,963$365,300$280 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Phoenixville, PA 19460 86%107$124,050$455,900$251 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery Village, MD 20886 86%20$98,542$386,500$236 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Silver Spring, MD 20906 86%29$97,521$455,800$250 larger · 6 min longer commute
Nottingham, MD 21236 86%45$95,149$327,200$208 cheaper homes ($108K less) · less walkable
Alexandria, VA 22309 86%52$107,376$567,200$327 pricier homes ($132K more) · older homes
Schaumburg, IL 60194 86%592$97,994$329,700$251 cheaper homes ($105K 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.

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