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 Damascus, MD 20872

Damascus: median income $141,050, home value $504,300, $252/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dumfries, VA 22025 91%47$150,306$528,600$236 Very close on everything we compare
Bellingham, MA 02019 89%357$125,307$450,700$282 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Lemont, IL 60439 89%589$121,724$480,800$264 larger
Norton, MA 02766 87%367$124,535$501,400$312 less walkable
West Grove, PA 19390 87%83$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($86K less) · less walkable
Schwenksville, PA 19473 85%115$138,819$476,300$248 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Chester, NY 10918 84%212$140,550$459,700$263 cheaper homes ($45K less) · less walkable
Goshen, NY 10924 84%211$110,938$454,300$277 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($50K less)
Montgomery, NY 12549 84%220$122,734$407,900$258 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Tinley Park, IL 60487 84%580$131,793$351,300$189 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger
Raynham, MA 02767 83%372$124,105$522,400$332 less walkable
Butler, NJ 07405 83%189$135,169$569,800$342 pricier homes ($66K more) · older homes
Howell, NJ 07731 83%170$134,056$494,600$353 larger
Brewster, NY 10509 83%241$116,831$458,300$291 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Frankfort, IL 60423 83%579$136,730$398,200$215 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Lancaster, MA 01523 82%363$134,833$519,100$288 smaller · less walkable
Stony Point, NY 10980 82%217$126,284$513,700$337 less walkable
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 82%239$141,585$478,600$266 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · less walkable
Algonquin, IL 60102 82%614$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Winfield, IL 60190 82%601$142,612$392,800$248 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98422 82%2,305$118,604$663,800$358 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger
Charlton, MA 01507 81%338$117,587$427,500$272 cheaper homes ($77K less) · less walkable
Rutland, MA 01543 81%349$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($42K less) · less walkable
Halifax, MA 02338 81%383$118,556$481,500$347 smaller · less walkable
New Boston, NH 03070 81%384$154,000$480,300$284 smaller · less walkable

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.