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 Dayton, MD 21036

Dayton: median income $218,036, home value $881,300, $264/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittstown, NJ 08867 88%143$204,583$601,600$276 cheaper homes ($280K less) · larger
Waterford, VA 20197 86%34$190,703$1,080,200$310 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($199K more) · more renters
Boxford, MA 01921 85%393$200,672$904,200$357 larger
West Newbury, MA 01985 85%399$179,500$808,200$387 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Easton, CT 06612 85%240$222,604$783,100$323 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Chester, NJ 07930 84%163$240,954$771,200$361 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Millstone Township, NJ 08510 84%142$225,966$740,700$318 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Dunstable, MA 01827 83%373$208,512$674,000$306 cheaper homes ($207K less) · younger residents
Millington, NJ 07946 83%165$208,587$801,700$417 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Harvard, MA 01451 82%362$214,792$856,200$349 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents
Califon, NJ 07830 82%154$180,852$656,400$297 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger
South Salem, NY 10590 82%230$211,734$795,600$409 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older homes
Wayne, IL 60184 82%619$163,750$642,700$239 lower income ($54K less) · cheaper homes ($239K less)
Bolton, MA 01740 81%358$205,449$796,000$309 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · younger residents
Newfields, NH 03856 81%409$197,885$646,400$371 cheaper homes ($235K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Towaco, NJ 07082 81%183$205,023$702,900$410 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Thornton, PA 19373 81%91$192,708$755,800$277 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($126K less) · younger residents
Broad Run, VA 20137 81%48$191,974$720,900$355 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($160K less) · 6 min longer commute
Washington Crossing, PA 18977 80%134$211,719$736,200$324 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · older residents
Glencoe, MO 63038 80%735$186,450$580,800$193 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($301K less) · larger
Hamilton, VA 20158 79%36$211,522$765,800$291 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · younger residents
Colts Neck, NJ 07722 78%167$198,994$917,200$474 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Clifton, VA 20124 78%37$221,060$884,800$300 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Redding, CT 06896 77%237$186,060$706,300$335 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger
Millstone Township, NJ 08535 77%141$209,732$734,100$329 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger

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.