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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 Alexandria, VA 22315

Alexandria: median income $159,805, home value $618,100, $346/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fairfax, VA 22033 92%15$143,454$648,800$355 pricier homes ($31K more) · more renters
Reston, VA 20191 90%16$151,185$641,800$350 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Centreville, VA 20120 88%18$152,563$648,700$317 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes
Lorton, VA 22079 88%5$148,134$637,600$316 more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 87%25$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Centreville, VA 20121 84%17$129,947$520,200$320 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($98K less)
Columbia, MD 21044 83%35$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more renters
Alexandria, VA 22310 83%2$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 81%39$148,125$620,900$272 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Reston, VA 20194 80%18$170,988$827,100$377 pricier homes ($209K more) · smaller
Springfield, VA 22152 80%5$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Burke, VA 22015 79%7$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($78K more) · more single-family homes
Glenview, IL 60026 79%604$137,778$694,200$346 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Trenton, NJ 08691 78%169$132,520$552,000$305 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Ashburn, VA 20147 78%26$163,904$718,500$311 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · less walkable
Laurel, MD 20723 77%30$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Alpharetta, GA 30009 77%512$126,510$640,500$317 lower income ($33K less) · more renters · more single-family homes
Annapolis, MD 21401 76%36$123,381$601,400$331 lower income ($36K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Fairfax, VA 22030 76%11$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · younger residents
Secaucus, NJ 07094 75%216$139,821$571,900$352 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Blue Bell, PA 19422 75%139$158,288$611,900$274 more single-family homes
Elkridge, MD 21075 75%37$135,303$455,300$246 cheaper homes ($163K less) · younger residents · more renters
Sterling, VA 20165 74%24$183,076$704,800$295 pricier homes ($87K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Herndon, VA 20171 74%17$171,372$797,200$331 pricier homes ($179K more) · larger · more renters
Columbia, MD 21046 74%32$127,813$479,500$252 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($139K 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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