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.

Reset

Towns most like Gambrills, MD 21054

Gambrills: median income $163,825, home value $611,000, $251/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Davidson, NC 28036 94%334$156,496$630,900$313 Very close on everything we compare
Mars, PA 16046 93%212$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Apex, NC 27539 93%258$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Stilwell, KS 66085 93%965$152,500$538,300$241 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Gainesville, VA 20155 91%53$164,279$659,100$252 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Glen Allen, VA 23059 91%102$157,897$593,700$238 larger
Castle Rock, CO 80109 91%1,505$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Bedford, NH 03110 90%381$167,418$612,100$302 Very close on everything we compare
Avondale, PA 19311 90%73$155,771$540,800$197 cheaper homes ($70K less) · younger residents
Novi, MI 48374 90%429$182,827$577,700$222 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 90%927$154,341$602,100$236 Very close on everything we compare
Flower Mound, TX 75022 90%1,212$177,357$657,400$258 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Collegeville, PA 19426 89%103$151,748$498,700$250 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Maple Grove, MN 55311 89%954$153,568$487,300$192 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Chanhassen, MN 55317 89%953$140,385$539,000$227 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Roanoke, TX 76262 89%1,217$151,250$577,100$248 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
San Antonio, TX 78255 89%1,407$157,428$531,400$212 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Chalfont, PA 18914 88%116$148,824$491,300$272 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older homes
Schwenksville, PA 19473 88%106$138,819$476,300$248 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($135K less) · older homes
Hamel, MN 55340 88%959$178,553$639,100$234 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Geneva, IL 60134 88%642$152,727$448,900$249 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Castle Rock, CO 80104 88%1,502$134,335$624,200$222 lower income ($29K less) · larger
Castle Rock, CO 80108 88%1,502$181,049$881,700$227 pricier homes ($271K more) · larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 88%1,504$141,659$683,400$210 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Wexford, PA 15090 87%210$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($135K 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.