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 Owings Mills, MD 21117

Owings Mills: median income $101,831, home value $387,400, $201/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smyrna, GA 30080 92%574$91,957$450,400$227 pricier homes ($63K more)
Aurora, IL 60504 90%622$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 88%941$85,000$379,700$262 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19702 86%59$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lisle, IL 60532 86%615$102,085$386,300$253 smaller · older homes
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 85%558$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30350 85%563$88,118$516,000$194 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller
Marietta, GA 30067 84%571$83,568$445,900$210 pricier homes ($59K more)
North Brunswick, NJ 08902 83%141$121,071$433,800$319 pricier homes ($46K more)
Woodbridge, VA 22191 83%61$109,316$454,300$246 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 min longer commute
Kissimmee, FL 34747 82%816$77,755$462,400$220 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32819 81%804$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33073 81%928$97,412$500,700$296 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
Naperville, IL 60563 81%619$109,783$435,600$271 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Spring, TX 77380 81%1,236$88,562$375,500$215 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Lansdale, PA 19446 80%97$106,310$441,100$257 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27603 80%277$90,484$383,200$209 more single-family homes
Riverview, FL 33578 80%860$85,921$340,900$184 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43235 80%332$86,666$383,500$206 10 min shorter commute
Novi, MI 48377 80%409$83,104$350,600$199 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Palatine, IL 60074 80%617$84,089$315,500$233 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80234 80%1,496$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller
Fredericksburg, VA 22401 79%87$86,230$483,700$249 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · more renters
Charleston, SC 29414 79%492$99,529$417,300$258 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes
Duluth, GA 30096 79%555$74,656$375,200$200 lower income ($27K less) · more renters

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.