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 Finksburg, MD 21048

Finksburg: median income $131,921, home value $459,000, $201/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marlborough, CT 06447 92%276$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Milford, NJ 08848 91%122$138,614$440,200$270 Very close on everything we compare
Blairstown, NJ 07825 90%144$123,785$423,400$258 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Weare, NH 03281 89%366$118,271$396,300$242 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Andover, NJ 07821 89%152$141,860$431,500$292 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Homer Glen, IL 60491 89%598$138,571$424,700$212 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
West Kingston, RI 02892 88%310$135,809$490,600$269 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 88%194$135,556$492,400$295 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Lagrangeville, NY 12540 88%223$111,320$483,100$251 Very close on everything we compare
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 87%217$141,585$478,600$266 larger
Poughquag, NY 12570 87%224$128,906$466,200$246 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Ashburnham, MA 01430 86%339$118,683$391,700$275 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Rutland, MA 01543 86%326$145,707$462,800$286 Very close on everything we compare
Deerfield, NH 03037 86%386$130,371$424,000$293 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Great Meadows, NJ 07838 86%140$121,599$440,100$265 smaller
New Freedom, PA 17349 86%21$120,618$368,900$185 cheaper homes ($90K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Sturbridge, MA 01566 85%310$137,730$415,900$268 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Tolland, CT 06084 85%289$133,611$365,200$241 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 85%165$123,271$436,900$280 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826 85%135$123,750$451,700$256 smaller · older residents
Geneva, FL 32732 85%780$119,205$487,600$280 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Milford, MI 48380 85%411$131,979$447,000$202 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Crawford, TX 76638 85%1,272$129,917$440,900$195 smaller · newer homes
Foster, RI 02825 84%314$112,593$445,600$272 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
New Boston, NH 03070 84%362$154,000$480,300$284 smaller

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.