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 Alexandria, VA 22312

Alexandria: median income $109,272, home value $604,200, $325/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edison, NJ 08837 92%191$102,605$437,900$389 cheaper homes ($166K less)
Falls Church, VA 22044 91%3$101,034$775,600$339 pricier homes ($171K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23451 91%149$100,697$613,600$349 larger
Asbury Park, NJ 07712 90%193$96,725$616,300$447 larger
Alexandria, VA 22306 90%5$97,132$594,000$343 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78723 90%1,304$100,329$562,300$355 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Falls Church, VA 22041 89%2$92,636$452,300$311 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Arvada, CO 80002 89%1,490$93,362$558,500$322 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waltham, MA 02452 87%397$118,431$808,300$429 pricier homes ($204K more) · smaller · younger residents
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 87%129$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Arlington, VA 22204 87%4$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22303 87%4$103,656$552,800$386 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Alexandria, VA 22309 87%7$107,376$567,200$327 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28210 87%327$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85016 87%1,968$87,850$564,900$363 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Woburn, MA 01801 86%403$111,185$673,500$456 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Norwalk, CT 06850 86%253$123,633$581,200$390 more single-family homes
Parsippany, NJ 07054 86%202$104,214$587,000$387 more single-family homes
Elmsford, NY 10523 86%235$118,438$588,100$449 smaller
Conshohocken, PA 19428 86%132$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Laurel, MD 20707 86%25$107,706$423,400$250 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Houston, TX 77079 86%1,221$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($76K more)
Tacoma, WA 98466 86%2,330$101,778$602,400$351 more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10603 85%236$121,026$503,000$424 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more homeowners
West Harrison, NY 10604 85%238$117,014$735,700$479 pricier homes ($132K more) · 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.

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