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 Mechanicsville, MD 20659

Mechanicsville: median income $121,654, home value $416,900, $230/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedar, MN 55011 92%972$121,434$405,300$208 smaller
Spotsylvania, VA 22551 91%55$110,370$391,400$236 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Orting, WA 98360 91%2,347$125,842$505,200$286 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller · newer homes
Zimmerman, MN 55398 88%990$103,419$355,100$193 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 5 min shorter commute
King George, VA 22485 87%24$117,560$428,300$197 newer homes
Moyock, NC 27958 87%138$112,177$404,900$226 smaller · newer homes
Big Lake, MN 55309 87%994$121,711$361,100$187 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Helendale, CA 92342 87%2,249$115,058$378,900$197 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Montpelier, VA 23192 86%67$110,642$428,700$233 smaller
Loxahatchee, FL 33470 86%834$122,163$584,500$301 pricier homes ($168K more) · newer homes
Bennett, CO 80102 86%1,482$113,125$542,600$229 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Graham, WA 98338 86%2,352$114,819$509,600$302 pricier homes ($93K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 85%273$111,320$483,100$251 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Spotsylvania, VA 22553 85%51$135,856$480,200$210 pricier homes ($63K more)
Townsend, DE 19734 84%86$127,803$430,700$211 smaller · newer homes
Senoia, GA 30276 84%566$107,525$403,400$214 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Naples, FL 34117 84%895$110,614$461,600$327 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Brighton, CO 80603 84%1,500$118,297$492,000$220 pricier homes ($75K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Palmdale, CA 93551 84%2,301$119,801$585,100$264 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 83%39$128,259$433,000$212 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Locust Grove, VA 22508 83%57$111,357$389,100$207 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Aylett, VA 23009 83%49$98,581$319,100$198 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller
Bumpass, VA 23024 83%69$100,962$371,300$258 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Howell, MI 48855 83%478$108,442$344,600$192 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Spring Creek, NV 89815 83%2,059$102,926$351,100$228 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.