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 Absecon, NJ 08201

Absecon: median income $71,321, home value $287,000, $226/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Albans, VT 05478 93%379$71,203$316,400$224 pricier homes ($29K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23325 93%204$69,909$272,000$235 larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49544 91%633$74,390$264,000$218 Very close on everything we compare
Panama City, FL 32405 90%898$73,373$279,900$196 larger
East Grand Forks, MN 56721 90%1,263$82,525$259,300$235 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Shawnee, KS 66203 90%1,081$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older homes
Lincoln, NE 68507 90%1,170$69,488$230,400$159 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Crescent City, CA 95531 90%2,573$67,458$351,400$247 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Spokane, WA 99212 90%2,188$67,049$361,500$211 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Pensacola, FL 32504 89%946$72,672$275,800$179 larger
Metairie, LA 70006 89%1,101$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80915 89%1,612$72,352$350,600$199 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Madras, OR 97741 89%2,388$70,983$334,800$247 pricier homes ($48K more) · less walkable
Dallastown, PA 17313 88%120$70,176$237,900$163 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Tampa, FL 33634 88%914$74,291$346,400$272 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 88%635$81,657$306,700$207 larger · less walkable
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 88%1,180$72,831$269,500$173 larger
Bridgeton, MO 63044 88%854$77,819$238,100$165 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Lees Summit, MO 64063 88%1,062$80,459$263,000$174 larger
Casper, WY 82609 88%1,661$71,010$293,900$169 larger
Newark, DE 19713 87%67$76,493$292,600$215 larger
Mauldin, SC 29662 87%536$81,749$239,300$170 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Savannah, GA 31406 87%633$67,120$283,300$217 larger
Janesville, WI 53546 87%787$75,825$239,400$192 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55433 87%1,038$78,054$296,900$191 larger

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.