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 Bel Air, MD 21015

Bel Air: median income $137,281, home value $443,400, $211/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bartlett, IL 60103 96%644$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Schwenksville, PA 19473 95%67$138,819$476,300$248 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
South Lyon, MI 48178 94%433$131,558$410,500$203 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Rosemount, MN 55068 93%931$127,798$395,900$198 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Chalfont, PA 18914 92%78$148,824$491,300$272 pricier homes ($48K more)
Collegeville, PA 19426 92%65$151,748$498,700$250 pricier homes ($55K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Frankfort, IL 60423 92%619$136,730$398,200$215 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Sewell, NJ 08080 91%67$122,262$357,000$229 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Middletown, DE 19709 91%34$132,956$470,900$205 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · newer homes
Dumfries, VA 22025 91%85$150,306$528,600$236 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Kennesaw, GA 30152 91%599$126,578$427,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, MI 48188 91%419$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Hugo, MN 55038 91%932$130,931$422,800$201 Very close on everything we compare
Algonquin, IL 60102 91%652$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Tinley Park, IL 60487 91%620$131,793$351,300$189 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Merrimack, NH 03054 90%340$127,303$458,700$264 5 min shorter commute
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 90%54$134,762$384,500$225 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Harleysville, PA 19438 90%71$138,134$480,300$246 pricier homes ($37K more)
Smyrna, GA 30082 90%600$120,372$438,700$200 more renters
Savage, MN 55378 90%942$124,871$430,900$189 7 min shorter commute
Winfield, IL 60190 90%640$142,612$392,800$248 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Batavia, IL 60510 90%648$121,622$392,200$237 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Perkasie, PA 18944 89%81$130,997$426,100$248 Very close on everything we compare
West Grove, PA 19390 89%33$128,858$417,900$222 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 89%66$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 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.