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.

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Towns most like Fairfax, VA 22031

Fairfax: median income $134,577, home value $723,600, $356/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockville, MD 20852 96%15$122,472$665,200$359 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Secaucus, NJ 07094 90%216$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Plainsboro, NJ 08536 89%176$137,607$704,100$404 smaller
Rockville, MD 20850 86%16$125,950$714,400$331 older residents · newer homes
Bethesda, MD 20814 85%13$150,996$989,600$425 pricier homes ($266K more)
Atlanta, GA 30342 85%524$124,111$829,400$318 pricier homes ($106K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 84%134$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($245K less) · smaller · older homes
Silver Spring, MD 20910 84%16$112,134$730,900$364 more renters · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 84%527$106,907$737,500$391 lower income ($28K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77079 84%1,217$101,995$679,900$339 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less)
Columbia, MD 21044 83%32$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Atlanta, GA 30319 81%523$130,648$762,500$301 pricier homes ($39K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Walnut Creek, CA 94597 81%2,403$132,063$1,026,800$597 pricier homes ($303K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30307 80%528$140,677$727,200$357 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Towson, MD 21204 79%52$99,606$594,800$261 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30328 79%522$112,111$561,900$236 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Bellevue, WA 98007 79%2,304$131,109$1,018,100$543 pricier homes ($295K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Decatur, GA 30030 78%526$126,830$631,500$328 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97239 78%2,338$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 77%132$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($294K less)
Charlotte, NC 28209 77%322$101,873$623,000$446 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28211 77%321$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Exton, PA 19341 76%119$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($214K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Naperville, IL 60563 76%608$109,783$435,600$271 cheaper homes ($288K less) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60614 76%585$136,448$720,400$506 larger · more 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.