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 Manahawkin, NJ 08050

Manahawkin: median income $115,676, home value $422,900, $327/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stevensville, MD 21666 94%123$123,645$494,300$278 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Powhatan, VA 23139 92%248$110,349$405,000$249 Very close on everything we compare
Pinckney, MI 48169 92%537$109,329$373,400$236 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Lemont, IL 60439 92%731$121,724$480,800$264 pricier homes ($58K more)
Charlton, MA 01507 90%206$117,587$427,500$272 smaller
Oxford, CT 06478 90%133$128,953$472,400$285 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Valrico, FL 33596 89%935$116,465$432,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, WI 53185 88%753$103,225$384,600$246 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Mokena, IL 60448 88%725$120,761$385,900$208 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Smithfield, VA 23430 87%228$104,065$367,400$208 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Denver, NC 28037 87%470$111,703$491,900$235 pricier homes ($69K more) · newer homes
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 87%965$100,396$388,000$221 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Homer Glen, IL 60491 87%729$138,571$424,700$212 Very close on everything we compare
North Richland Hills, TX 76182 87%1,357$120,558$403,000$206 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85086 87%2,119$121,676$598,900$267 pricier homes ($176K more) · larger · newer homes
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 87%2,442$110,316$518,700$356 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller
Lakeville, MA 02347 86%227$133,984$565,900$358 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller
Hudson, NH 03051 86%258$124,213$438,900$298 more apartments and townhomes
Pelham, NH 03076 86%259$135,956$552,600$312 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller · younger residents
Windham, ME 04062 86%345$107,934$388,900$317 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Hampstead, MD 21074 86%139$108,536$378,100$217 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Palm City, FL 34990 86%933$129,560$592,400$283 pricier homes ($170K more)
Lenoir City, TN 37772 86%607$100,711$429,800$234 smaller
Mukwonago, WI 53149 86%762$110,608$414,200$240 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Port Orchard, WA 98367 86%2,439$115,482$565,100$294 pricier homes ($142K more)

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.