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 Lonaconing, MD 21539

Lonaconing: median income $57,708, home value $130,200, $214/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayette, OH 43521 88%315$60,550$120,500$136 Very close on everything we compare
Tatum, NM 88267 88%1,416$52,250$111,400— Very close on everything we compare
Winfield, IA 52659 87%663$55,125$110,900$156 more homeowners
Emerson, NE 68733 87%942$64,479$132,600— smaller
Jessup, PA 18434 86%222$62,922$164,000$158 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Crossville, IL 62827 86%497$52,550$100,000— cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Wolcott, NY 14590 85%277$55,682$107,700$221 larger · more homeowners
New Eagle, PA 15067 85%67$52,352$109,400$173 older residents · more homeowners
Wellsville, OH 43968 85%114$59,200$102,500$178 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Oolitic, IN 47451 85%406$60,938$126,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Scottdale, PA 15683 84%48$51,913$150,400$189 larger
Knox, PA 16232 84%117$65,525$142,800$172 larger · more homeowners
Waynesburg, OH 44688 84%142$66,444$130,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Wampum, PA 16157 83%115$60,345$158,800$215 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Beaver Springs, PA 17812 83%123$59,338$160,100$171 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Sigourney, IA 52591 83%704$62,404$156,500$130 pricier homes ($26K more)
Meridian, TX 76665 83%1,169$62,857$160,700$248 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Madison, ME 04950 82%591$61,747$187,600$197 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Saint Johnsville, NY 13452 82%328$60,327$106,200$161 larger · more homeowners
Midland, PA 15059 82%110$66,231$137,500$131 larger
Derry, PA 15627 82%55$59,398$157,000$164 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Duryea, PA 18642 82%209$61,250$158,700$140 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · younger residents
Altavista, VA 24517 82%170$53,201$145,200$151 larger · newer homes
West Point, KY 40177 82%390$50,577$122,200$155 younger residents
Fontanelle, IA 50846 82%825$74,200$108,800— smaller · more single-family homes

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.