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 La Plata, MD 20646

La Plata: median income $131,974, home value $450,200, $214/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chester, NY 10918 92%243$140,550$459,700$263 smaller
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 90%40$135,856$480,200$210 pricier homes ($30K more)
Stafford, VA 22556 89%29$137,287$486,100$226 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Homer Glen, IL 60491 89%617$138,571$424,700$212 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more single-family homes
Charlton, MA 01507 88%363$117,587$427,500$272 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Rutland, MA 01543 88%375$145,707$462,800$286 smaller
Raynham, MA 02767 88%392$124,105$522,400$332 pricier homes ($72K more)
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 88%269$141,585$478,600$266 pricier homes ($28K more)
Fredericksburg, VA 22406 88%31$129,167$512,300$205 pricier homes ($62K more) · newer homes
Spotsylvania, VA 22551 88%45$110,370$391,400$236 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Uxbridge, MA 01569 87%374$124,222$443,400$305 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 87%217$123,271$436,900$280 smaller
Sussex, NJ 07461 87%226$106,981$370,000$262 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
West Grove, PA 19390 87%109$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 87%28$128,259$433,000$212 larger · younger residents
Charles Town, WV 25414 87%70$105,500$391,700$180 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($59K less)
Lemont, IL 60439 87%620$121,724$480,800$264 pricier homes ($31K more)
Port Orchard, WA 98367 87%2,352$115,482$565,100$294 pricier homes ($115K more)
Pepperell, MA 01463 86%402$123,911$482,100$298 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Shirley, MA 01464 86%396$122,365$427,600$294 smaller
Hudson, NH 03051 86%414$124,213$438,900$298 7 min shorter commute
Weare, NH 03281 86%418$118,271$396,300$242 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 86%276$111,320$483,100$251 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
La Vernia, TX 78121 86%1,362$120,048$402,600$222 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Douglassville, PA 19518 85%138$114,181$354,700$210 cheaper homes ($96K less) · 8 min shorter commute

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.