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 Boonsboro, MD 21713

Boonsboro: median income $96,199, home value $369,200, $207/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salem, WI 53168 97%582$97,035$300,200$243 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Poynette, WI 53955 97%662$101,134$332,000$201 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Elmer, NJ 08318 95%135$92,558$302,000$198 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Glen Rock, PA 17327 95%53$101,106$315,700$184 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Bernville, PA 19506 95%104$106,422$341,900$192 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Annandale, MN 55302 95%923$83,235$347,000$230 Very close on everything we compare
Monson, MA 01057 94%332$98,508$345,300$239 Very close on everything we compare
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 94%55$97,896$303,200$175 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Baltimore, OH 43105 94%263$98,583$340,900$219 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Hollis Center, ME 04042 93%461$95,950$338,900$270 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Brooklyn, CT 06234 93%338$96,207$315,200$243 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Canterbury, CT 06331 93%333$103,198$334,200$243 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Conestoga, PA 17516 93%76$103,942$313,500$185 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Mohnton, PA 19540 93%103$100,000$319,600$216 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Middletown, VA 22645 93%47$90,875$419,900$219 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller
West Point, VA 23181 93%146$95,699$290,600$191 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Highland, MI 48357 93%376$94,954$360,700$203 Very close on everything we compare
White Lake, MI 48386 93%369$89,702$321,100$211 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Milton, WI 53563 93%626$89,528$293,800$229 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Wyoming, MN 55092 93%873$95,337$363,900$206 newer homes
Maple Lake, MN 55358 93%916$92,039$329,500$228 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Pollock Pines, CA 95726 93%2,274$91,128$424,200$259 pricier homes ($55K more)
Oakdale, CT 06370 92%318$105,700$332,500$231 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Wolcott, CT 06716 92%285$111,225$325,300$236 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Evans City, PA 16033 92%151$108,071$333,100$200 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.