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 Owings, MD 20736

Owings: median income $159,851, home value $567,700, $223/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nokesville, VA 20181 96%51$164,167$709,300$264 pricier homes ($142K more)
Warrenton, VA 20187 92%61$176,435$646,400$239 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
New Boston, NH 03070 91%392$154,000$480,300$284 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Rutland, MA 01543 90%353$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Madera, CA 93636 89%2,343$133,274$542,100$268 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Elizabeth, CO 80107 88%1,497$135,262$684,800$221 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Brookline, NH 03033 87%381$171,046$544,400$245 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Stewartsville, NJ 08886 87%159$161,168$447,100$272 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Jeffersonton, VA 22724 87%70$143,182$551,200$184 smaller
Lovettsville, VA 20180 86%67$151,483$664,400$238 pricier homes ($97K more)
Douglas, MA 01516 85%345$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Poughquag, NY 12570 85%254$128,906$466,200$246 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · 5 min longer commute
Manassas, VA 20112 85%44$195,467$648,000$250 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($80K more) · larger
Homer Glen, IL 60491 85%632$138,571$424,700$212 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · older residents
Crawford, TX 76638 85%1,270$129,917$440,900$195 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller
West Kingston, RI 02892 84%327$135,809$490,600$269 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older residents
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 84%152$134,038$580,900$325 lower income ($26K less) · smaller
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 84%227$135,556$492,400$295 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · older residents
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 84%247$141,585$478,600$266 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Oviedo, FL 32766 84%740$147,552$564,400$250 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bulverde, TX 78163 84%1,387$140,594$435,600$207 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Assonet, MA 02702 83%362$153,038$516,100$293 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chester, NH 03036 83%407$142,212$552,300$298 smaller · older residents
Marlborough, CT 06447 83%299$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller · older homes
Andover, NJ 07821 83%185$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older 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.