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 Galena, MD 21635

Galena: median income $101,618, home value $402,000, $258/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterloo, NE 68069 96%1,082$111,974$365,100$254 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Alexandria, OH 43001 95%362$93,804$387,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Ghent, NY 12075 94%236$98,047$422,900$253 larger
Cedar, MI 49621 94%636$95,446$396,600$278 larger
Black Earth, WI 53515 94%766$92,625$361,300$218 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Mazomanie, WI 53560 94%768$98,409$358,000$228 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Merrimac, WI 53561 94%765$91,103$427,600$251 pricier homes ($26K more)
Rock Hill, NY 12775 93%171$112,600$398,400$228 Very close on everything we compare
Madison Lake, MN 56063 93%982$102,391$416,300$297 larger · younger residents
Rocheport, MO 65279 93%890$103,516$332,700$211 cheaper homes ($69K less)
New Haven, VT 05472 92%358$92,537$378,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Shoreham, VT 05770 92%341$92,188$320,000$217 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Bethlehem, CT 06751 92%212$108,929$410,900$249 larger
Lake Park, MN 56554 92%1,138$94,792$376,400$307 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Fort Calhoun, NE 68023 92%1,068$116,287$389,600$333 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, NY 12015 91%230$91,845$306,300$226 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Galway, NY 12074 91%272$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Middle Grove, NY 12850 91%277$92,083$317,300$246 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Oley, PA 19547 91%72$89,948$357,900$213 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Welch, MN 55089 91%937$108,750$384,800$238 Very close on everything we compare
Elysian, MN 56028 91%976$93,375$338,000$253 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Valley, NE 68064 91%1,085$100,450$407,700$277 larger
Dublin, NH 03444 90%316$104,773$429,600$219 pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
Bowdoinham, ME 04008 90%446$108,479$405,500$330 larger · more homeowners
Bridport, VT 05734 90%345$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller

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.