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 Parkton, MD 21120

Parkton: median income $162,052, home value $580,900, $237/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brookline, NH 03033 94%337$171,046$544,400$245 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Sandy Hook, CT 06482 92%217$159,828$499,200$285 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Long Valley, NJ 07853 91%127$175,792$605,000$302 larger
Warrenton, VA 20187 91%86$176,435$646,400$239 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Amston, CT 06231 89%264$168,313$407,500$255 cheaper homes ($173K less) · smaller
Jamison, PA 18929 89%94$179,380$627,700$274 pricier homes ($47K more)
Princeton, MA 01541 88%316$158,750$520,500$284 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Pittstown, NJ 08867 88%112$204,583$601,600$276 higher income ($43K more) · older residents
Glencoe, MO 63038 88%753$186,450$580,800$193 older residents
Lovettsville, VA 20180 87%60$151,483$664,400$238 pricier homes ($84K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Norfolk, MA 02056 86%327$200,720$725,200$344 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Amherst, NH 03031 86%344$153,125$537,300$289 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Nokesville, VA 20181 86%80$164,167$709,300$264 pricier homes ($128K more)
Oakland, MI 48363 86%401$179,375$618,200$226 pricier homes ($37K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Dunstable, MA 01827 85%341$208,512$674,000$306 higher income ($46K more) · pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Monroe, CT 06468 85%216$157,250$503,200$275 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Venetia, PA 15367 85%185$135,542$544,100$216 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($37K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Loretto, MN 55357 85%944$152,500$530,200$245 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older residents
Sunnyvale, TX 75182 85%1,202$170,348$565,300$208 newer homes
Upton, MA 01568 84%317$160,417$574,700$316 more apartments and townhomes
West Kingston, RI 02892 84%295$135,809$490,600$269 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less)
Ringoes, NJ 08551 84%112$162,617$595,800$314 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Glenmoore, PA 19343 84%57$160,256$567,700$267 8 min shorter commute
Lincoln University, PA 19352 84%43$165,365$473,200$225 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Saint Charles, IL 60175 84%633$181,352$519,700$221 cheaper homes ($61K 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.