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 Mars, PA 16046

Mars: median income $151,560, home value $481,300, $212/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aurora, IL 60502 94%434$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Gambrills, MD 21054 93%212$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($130K more)
Glen Allen, VA 23059 91%245$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Apex, NC 27539 90%350$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($84K more)
Novi, MI 48374 90%218$182,827$577,700$222 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($96K more)
Geneva, IL 60134 90%437$152,727$448,900$249 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Apex, NC 27502 89%350$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Westerville, OH 43082 89%154$147,972$458,200$214 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Saint Paul, MN 55129 89%714$143,795$534,900$199 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Maple Grove, MN 55311 89%742$153,568$487,300$192 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Davidson, NC 28036 88%363$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($150K more)
Powell, OH 43065 88%165$154,481$482,200$215 larger · more single-family homes
Spring, TX 77382 88%1,131$162,384$566,500$222 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Fort Mill, SC 29708 87%394$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Prospect, KY 40059 87%338$152,727$559,300$210 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Northville, MI 48168 87%214$187,589$582,600$224 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($101K more)
Chanhassen, MN 55317 87%742$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($58K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55446 87%743$170,625$583,500$210 pricier homes ($102K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Gainesville, VA 20155 86%183$164,279$659,100$252 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger
Bowie, MD 20720 86%209$158,997$564,600$216 pricier homes ($83K more) · 6 min longer commute
Perry Hall, MD 21128 86%210$128,069$449,500$212 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Frederick, MD 21704 86%169$161,063$612,000$227 pricier homes ($131K more)
Charlotte, NC 28270 86%387$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Stilwell, KS 66085 86%787$152,500$538,300$241 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bel Air, MD 21015 85%213$137,281$443,400$211 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 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.