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 Curtis Bay, MD 21226

Curtis Bay: median income $82,635, home value $330,500, $177/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newport News, VA 23603 82%139$88,246$293,300$189 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Clearwater, FL 33760 81%858$69,596$265,700$191 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Manville, RI 02838 80%328$97,273$372,300$219 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80235 79%1,516$70,484$547,000$238 pricier homes ($217K more)
Marietta, PA 17547 78%59$92,199$270,600$196 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Mountville, PA 17554 78%58$98,431$301,500$183 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Des Moines, IA 50321 78%913$80,351$320,500$212 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 78%614$68,964$226,900$189 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Burnsville, MN 55306 77%938$100,515$374,700$187 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 77%629$84,775$343,000$240 larger · older residents
Horsham, PA 19044 76%101$88,173$402,400$297 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Wheeling, IL 60090 76%629$85,355$264,800$228 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Anchorage, AK 99518 76%3,360$93,995$323,400$242 12 min shorter commute
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 75%780$70,955$325,300$204 larger
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 75%632$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 74%926$77,363$371,400$256 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55121 74%934$87,152$301,400$195 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Crest Hill, IL 60403 74%628$73,074$233,200$195 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Justice, IL 60458 74%617$60,758$225,000$193 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Claymont, DE 19703 73%71$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 73%814$80,831$404,200$235 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33637 73%841$63,323$229,200$200 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more renters
Palatine, IL 60074 73%633$84,089$315,500$233 larger · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 73%1,506$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Somersworth, NH 03878 72%406$75,136$317,900$256 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable

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.