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 Lancaster, PA 17602

Lancaster: median income $75,862, home value $271,700, $193/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middletown, CT 06457 88%217$79,463$295,300$235 Very close on everything we compare
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 87%169$63,652$301,700$229 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters
Manchester, NH 03103 86%322$73,540$342,200$292 pricier homes ($71K more)
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 86%236$85,356$275,500$226 smaller · more single-family homes
Meriden, CT 06450 85%210$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes
Parkville, MD 21234 85%47$83,517$288,100$183 more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46260 85%524$72,504$288,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Bangor, ME 04401 84%505$66,932$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more single-family homes
Norwich, CT 06360 84%243$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more walkable
Manchester, NH 03102 83%321$74,327$343,300$277 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · more renters
Henrico, VA 23228 83%187$70,260$283,500$235 more single-family homes
Palatine, IL 60074 83%628$84,089$315,500$233 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 83%628$86,372$261,800$220 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Somersworth, NH 03878 82%357$75,136$317,900$256 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Bristol, CT 06010 82%209$79,314$277,900$229 more single-family homes
Cohoes, NY 12047 82%232$66,071$246,800$226 smaller · more renters · more walkable
Halethorpe, MD 21227 82%60$85,986$289,400$209 more single-family homes · more walkable
Windsor Mill, MD 21244 82%55$85,114$282,600$198 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Clinton Township, MI 48038 82%390$78,567$265,500$166 newer homes
Westland, MI 48185 82%402$60,854$194,000$167 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more single-family homes
Kenosha, WI 53140 82%624$58,006$206,700$190 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Concord, NH 03301 81%330$86,840$371,300$268 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller
Clementon, NJ 08021 81%70$68,044$217,000$210 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more walkable
Hagerstown, MD 21740 81%82$62,873$262,300$174 more single-family homes
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 81%837$62,198$291,300$219 smaller · newer homes

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.