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 Middle River, MD 21220

Middle River: median income $81,817, home value $300,100, $187/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 95%636$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hanover Park, IL 60133 92%641$91,763$274,200$235 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Mays Landing, NJ 08330 90%92$77,167$236,600$213 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Ephrata, PA 17522 90%59$74,828$285,200$189 6 min shorter commute
Lake Worth, FL 33463 90%906$73,865$363,400$242 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Clinton Township, MI 48038 90%410$78,567$265,500$166 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Blackwood, NJ 08012 89%80$95,451$289,700$225 Very close on everything we compare
Marietta, GA 30008 89%589$74,877$307,600$184 more single-family homes
Casselberry, FL 32707 89%789$69,113$329,500$233 pricier homes ($29K more)
Brandon, FL 33511 89%859$81,301$362,700$209 pricier homes ($63K more) · more renters
Fort Myers, FL 33905 89%928$71,987$283,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, KY 41042 89%441$79,712$223,000$178 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Miamisburg, OH 45342 89%419$84,907$230,300$156 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55433 89%951$78,054$296,900$191 7 min shorter commute
Crest Hill, IL 60403 89%633$73,074$233,200$195 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Tucson, AZ 85741 89%1,986$76,271$299,500$219 more single-family homes
Naugatuck, CT 06770 88%231$96,208$259,000$230 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Burlington, NJ 08016 88%97$98,463$339,100$227 pricier homes ($39K more)
Coatesville, PA 19320 88%54$90,601$330,100$209 pricier homes ($30K more)
Valparaiso, IN 46383 88%579$76,224$279,900$179 Very close on everything we compare
Burnsville, MN 55337 88%940$84,110$349,100$180 pricier homes ($49K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Pottstown, PA 19464 87%77$79,787$264,400$197 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Newark, DE 19713 87%44$76,493$292,600$215 6 min shorter commute
New Castle, DE 19720 87%44$75,403$265,000$203 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dover, DE 19904 87%45$66,908$309,400$182 5 min shorter commute

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.