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 Marshall, VA 20115

Marshall: median income $142,981, home value $657,300, $273/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakeville, MA 02347 91%420$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more homeowners
East Moriches, NY 11940 91%305$138,639$661,600$432 Very close on everything we compare
Douglas, MA 01516 89%392$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($190K less) · more homeowners
East Bridgewater, MA 02333 89%426$133,741$509,200$322 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger
Sandown, NH 03873 89%450$135,040$483,400$324 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Pepperell, MA 01463 87%422$123,911$482,100$298 cheaper homes ($175K less) · more homeowners
East Freetown, MA 02717 87%417$130,625$520,800$336 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller
Pelham, NH 03076 87%437$135,956$552,600$312 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more homeowners
Miller Place, NY 11764 87%298$146,813$615,900$377 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Mendon, MA 01756 86%402$132,256$616,000$314 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners
Manorville, NY 11949 86%303$138,864$601,600$339 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more homeowners
Stevensville, MD 21666 86%84$123,645$494,300$278 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · more homeowners
Raynham, MA 02767 85%419$124,105$522,400$332 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Grasonville, MD 21638 85%91$140,086$569,200$298 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Jefferson, MD 21755 85%41$137,417$529,600$241 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more homeowners
Lancaster, MA 01523 84%410$134,833$519,100$288 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more homeowners
Hanson, MA 02341 84%431$132,250$536,100$337 cheaper homes ($121K less) · more homeowners
West Greenwich, RI 02817 84%382$135,625$535,400$274 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Flanders, NJ 07836 84%219$151,915$558,700$330 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 84%204$134,038$580,900$325 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Middletown, MD 21769 84%45$151,563$507,000$225 cheaper homes ($150K less) · more homeowners
Kingston, WA 98346 84%2,293$114,779$612,800$348 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less)
Charlton, MA 01507 83%386$117,587$427,500$272 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($230K less) · larger
Northbridge, MA 01534 83%399$141,250$481,200$265 cheaper homes ($176K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Upton, MA 01568 83%403$160,417$574,700$316 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more homeowners

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.