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 Dowell, MD 20629

Dowell: median income $87,389, home value $403,100, $166/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Millville, DE 19967 76%73$98,301$483,100$222 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · older residents
Bracey, VA 23919 73%152$66,750$300,000$203 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · more renters
Christmas, FL 32709 73%725$73,224$299,300$243 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents
Alto, NM 88312 73%1,663$80,345$304,100$297 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · more single-family homes
North Port, FL 34289 72%845$83,411$371,000$173 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45252 71%445$84,963$314,600$161 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Egg Harbor, WI 54209 69%723$77,188$386,700$335 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Renfrew, PA 16053 68%254$76,054$297,500$218 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Belews Creek, NC 27009 68%248$76,469$280,400$173 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · younger residents
Sunset Beach, NC 28468 68%329$83,358$412,000$244 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ventress, LA 70783 68%1,000$103,583$386,100$170 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Bokeelia, FL 33922 67%872$71,164$355,800$269 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more renters
Port Charlotte, FL 33953 67%851$83,070$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Frankford, DE 19945 66%69$87,638$443,100$235 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Ocean View, DE 19970 66%75$94,103$526,600$266 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · older residents
San Antonio, FL 33576 66%768$76,388$376,400$181 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Alburgh, VT 05440 65%469$76,429$268,300$199 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Placida, FL 33946 65%863$85,848$660,800$247 pricier homes ($258K more) · larger · older residents
Punta Gorda, FL 33955 65%857$76,943$376,200$188 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Shelby, AL 35143 65%673$72,500$220,000$214 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · more renters
Comfort, TX 78013 65%1,403$82,492$416,300$224 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Paulden, AZ 86334 65%2,000$78,723$321,400$215 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Lanesborough, MA 01237 64%335$90,898$303,700$274 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Thornton, NH 03285 64%459$90,022$351,900$254 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
Selbyville, DE 19975 64%71$88,568$462,700$280 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · 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.