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 Flintstone, MD 21530

Flintstone: median income $63,542, home value $202,400, $137/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Benton, OH 44449 94%156$62,188$163,600$135 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Farnham, VA 22460 93%165$65,685$198,200$164 5 min longer commute
Wallace, MI 49893 93%600$63,125$197,600$135 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, WI 54968 93%614$65,758$196,600$161 larger
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912 92%413$70,046$189,200$121 younger residents
Lincoln, MI 48742 92%425$66,477$170,300$126 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Lachine, MI 49753 92%454$57,292$152,800$131 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Rome City, IN 46784 91%377$62,102$220,400$193 Very close on everything we compare
New Harmony, IN 47631 91%514$66,058$197,100$191 larger
Francisco, IN 47649 91%486$63,060$160,800$129 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min longer commute
Port Hope, MI 48468 91%363$63,000$151,100$136 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Johannesburg, MI 49751 91%472$62,008$188,600$162 larger · younger residents
Gays Mills, WI 54631 91%682$65,417$170,900$158 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Erhard, MN 56534 91%996$70,694$238,300$145 pricier homes ($36K more)
Littlefork, MN 56653 91%952$74,583$168,900$119 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Chelsea, VT 05038 90%432$62,000$254,800$154 pricier homes ($52K more)
Penn Run, PA 15765 90%67$73,646$186,000— Very close on everything we compare
Sigel, PA 15860 90%114$65,774$148,800— cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Union, WV 24983 90%180$51,667$219,900$126 5 min longer commute
Staffordsville, KY 41256 90%266$60,583$203,800$142 younger residents
Sycamore, OH 44882 90%256$73,529$164,000$116 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Au Gres, MI 48703 90%399$64,792$172,100$160 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Endeavor, WI 53930 90%625$72,778$224,200$182 younger residents
Middleburgh, NY 12122 89%297$55,875$174,300$162 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Burlington Flats, NY 13315 89%275$65,921$202,000$198 5 min longer 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.