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 17603

Lancaster: median income $77,084, home value $262,400, $196/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middletown, CT 06457 88%221$79,463$295,300$235 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
Parkville, MD 21234 88%44$83,517$288,100$183 pricier homes ($26K more)
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 85%240$85,356$275,500$226 smaller
Bristol, CT 06010 84%214$79,314$277,900$229 more single-family homes
Manchester, CT 06040 84%235$83,422$259,400$224 smaller · more walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46260 84%520$72,504$288,900$159 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · newer homes
Keene, NH 03431 83%293$79,541$255,500$228 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Halethorpe, MD 21227 83%57$85,986$289,400$209 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more walkable
Palatine, IL 60074 83%624$84,089$315,500$233 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · newer homes
Manchester, NH 03104 82%328$88,897$392,200$280 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Concord, NH 03301 82%334$86,840$371,300$268 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller
Meriden, CT 06450 82%214$71,250$242,600$211 smaller
Troy, NY 12180 82%234$75,851$244,400$176 more renters · more walkable
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 82%174$63,652$301,700$229 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · more renters
Bangor, ME 04401 81%510$66,932$239,900$198 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Henrico, VA 23228 81%184$70,260$283,500$235 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Norwich, CT 06360 80%248$65,539$245,700$203 smaller · more walkable
West Haven, CT 06516 80%199$74,382$291,700$246 pricier homes ($29K more) · more walkable
Kingston, NY 12401 80%181$69,305$319,700$275 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older residents
Burnsville, MN 55337 80%921$84,110$349,100$180 pricier homes ($87K more) · newer homes
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 80%625$86,372$261,800$220 smaller · newer homes
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 80%627$90,774$306,300$241 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · newer homes
Manchester, NH 03103 79%326$73,540$342,200$292 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · more renters
Auburn, ME 04210 79%422$66,647$282,000$208 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Akron, OH 44313 79%284$75,671$231,300$161 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · more single-family 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.