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 Chester, MD 21619

Chester: median income $107,639, home value $486,600, $297/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Epping, NH 03042 94%391$104,220$436,900$319 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Merrimac, MA 01860 93%384$123,054$553,400$329 pricier homes ($67K more)
Hampstead, NH 03841 93%380$104,044$510,100$307 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Valley, NY 12569 92%232$100,846$380,100$246 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Hope Valley, RI 02832 91%298$105,976$432,300$270 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Wilton, NH 03086 90%357$113,750$381,600$284 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older homes
Slinger, WI 53086 90%693$103,426$387,100$214 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Chisago City, MN 55013 90%956$109,063$397,400$239 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Manchester, NH 03109 89%376$108,144$387,900$305 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kingston, NH 03848 88%386$105,330$492,900$317 older residents
Beacon Falls, CT 06403 88%241$101,516$350,300$279 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Pawling, NY 12564 88%230$111,324$446,800$266 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older homes
Kalama, WA 98625 88%2,385$116,435$513,200$278 pricier homes ($27K more)
Berlin, MA 01503 87%340$121,336$616,600$297 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
Plainville, MA 02762 87%335$104,106$476,000$337 larger
Raynham, MA 02767 87%343$124,105$522,400$332 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Epsom, NH 03234 87%390$97,941$338,400$251 cheaper homes ($148K less) · more homeowners
Plaistow, NH 03865 87%381$108,317$404,500$312 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Lumberton, NJ 08048 87%105$113,440$432,100$232 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · younger residents
Warrenton, VA 20186 87%86$97,801$523,400$258 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · younger residents
Hooksett, NH 03106 86%379$118,442$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · younger residents
Milton, NY 12547 86%222$88,778$377,200$255 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Valencia, PA 16059 86%228$110,828$408,500$243 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more homeowners
Sellersville, PA 18960 86%110$109,028$408,300$234 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Kingston, WA 98346 86%2,363$114,779$612,800$348 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · 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.