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 Bear, DE 19701

Bear: median income $111,198, home value $372,500, $206/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Macungie, PA 18062 94%64$110,675$380,200$201 smaller
Quakertown, PA 18951 92%60$98,268$363,200$225 older homes
Utica, MI 48315 92%436$100,684$378,700$187 smaller · older residents
Franklin, WI 53132 92%679$109,850$367,500$223 Very close on everything we compare
Howell, MI 48843 91%477$94,577$348,400$201 more single-family homes
Anoka, MN 55303 91%983$102,986$353,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Ballston Spa, NY 12020 90%253$107,112$329,400$271 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Lititz, PA 17543 90%52$97,435$348,400$234 Very close on everything we compare
Havre De Grace, MD 21078 90%24$106,667$385,600$185 smaller
North East, MD 21901 90%15$113,719$367,400$210 smaller
West Palm Beach, FL 33411 90%931$92,591$441,600$251 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Washington, MI 48094 90%439$98,017$418,200$204 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Utica, MI 48316 90%439$107,776$383,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Hastings, MN 55033 90%946$103,988$358,700$187 older homes
North Aurora, IL 60542 90%679$114,831$342,400$217 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Hooksett, NH 03106 89%324$118,442$408,400$273 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 89%54$109,292$338,100$234 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older homes
Circle Pines, MN 55014 89%968$103,658$337,400$202 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more single-family homes
Forest Lake, MN 55025 89%962$98,382$405,000$201 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Mount Joy, PA 17552 88%56$97,683$292,500$212 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Pennsburg, PA 18073 88%55$115,766$369,300$218 smaller
Abingdon, MD 21009 88%35$121,660$357,100$192 younger residents
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 88%57$104,715$377,100$229 older homes
Chesapeake, VA 23321 88%198$101,568$367,900$209 younger residents · more single-family homes
Suffolk, VA 23435 88%195$111,700$394,500$215 Very close on everything we compare

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.