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 Hancock, MD 21750

Hancock: median income $60,625, home value $232,500, $166/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walnut Grove, MO 65770 91%842$59,329$188,700$171 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Confluence, PA 15424 90%63$56,190$152,100$175 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Keysville, VA 23947 90%184$51,800$176,500$164 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Moscow, OH 45153 90%327$57,176$226,100— smaller
Clearville, PA 15535 89%18$57,212$205,200$143 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Ararat, VA 24053 89%248$63,646$171,900— cheaper homes ($61K less)
Plattsburg, MO 64477 89%864$64,643$238,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Needmore, PA 17238 88%12$65,189$212,900$165 smaller
Westfield, NC 27053 88%253$67,974$224,500$180 Very close on everything we compare
Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 88%2,149$54,923$269,900$196 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · younger residents
Shickshinny, PA 18655 87%148$72,571$190,700$168 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Romney, WV 26757 87%39$57,212$213,200$173 larger
Crawford, GA 30630 87%486$57,813$219,400$165 newer homes
Centerville, TN 37033 87%575$68,284$217,200$207 larger · younger residents
Malvern, OH 44644 87%173$64,637$223,300$212 Very close on everything we compare
Gosport, IN 47433 87%453$59,520$197,900$157 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Upton, WY 82730 87%1,388$72,159$193,800$215 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Yoncalla, OR 97499 87%2,316$58,958$325,700$205 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Norway, ME 04268 86%500$54,342$215,800$239 larger
Sparrow Bush, NY 12780 86%218$74,468$221,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Three Springs, PA 17264 86%35$53,382$168,000$183 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more homeowners
Benton, PA 17814 86%143$65,089$224,800$148 8 min shorter commute
Sunbright, TN 37872 86%427$58,906$144,600$159 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Burlison, TN 38015 86%698$69,141$197,600$188 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · less walkable
Holton, IN 47023 86%387$68,750$218,500$196 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.