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 Fairplay, MD 21733

Fairplay: median income $109,896, home value $291,800, $186/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Corunna, IN 46730 89%409$116,181$316,500— more homeowners
Kingston, IL 60145 89%601$108,477$268,300$191 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Granger, TX 76530 88%1,264$106,250$288,300$190 larger · newer homes
Perrinton, MI 48871 87%436$84,803$230,600$169 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Freeman, MO 64746 87%898$79,682$275,000$203 lower income ($30K less)
Cortland, NE 68331 86%1,003$96,250$313,900$196 Very close on everything we compare
Union, NH 03887 85%440$91,875$292,800$251 more homeowners
Brodheadsville, PA 18322 85%156$121,421$294,000$202 larger · more homeowners
Dexter, IA 50070 85%873$92,083$213,300$174 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mc Louth, KS 66054 85%932$98,214$243,500$185 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · newer homes
Weston, OR 97886 85%2,084$92,955$252,500$204 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Schuyler, VA 22969 84%132$94,659$314,200$234 newer homes
Taylors Falls, MN 55084 84%863$94,297$318,500$276 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Parker, KS 66072 84%928$101,875$296,800$235 newer homes
Royalston, MA 01368 83%361$102,500$347,300$206 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Malaga, NJ 08328 83%144$101,583$236,900$247 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Valley Falls, NY 12185 83%317$110,625$210,900$182 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Orrtanna, PA 17353 83%30$100,150$264,100$158 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older residents
Cartersville, VA 23027 83%134$95,407$243,200$224 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Mount Sterling, OH 43143 83%294$100,333$242,800$179 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Shafer, MN 55074 83%861$106,625$297,500$225 larger · newer homes
Henderson, MN 56044 83%896$101,250$333,600$143 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Raymond, NE 68428 83%1,006$115,000$385,600$198 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents · newer homes
Huntington, MA 01050 82%316$95,882$289,500$176 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Andover, NH 03216 82%409$88,311$358,800$194 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 6 min shorter 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.