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 Sykesville, MD 21784

Sykesville: median income $139,395, home value $491,800, $256/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 95%221$141,585$478,600$266 Very close on everything we compare
Schwenksville, PA 19473 93%97$138,819$476,300$248 smaller
Howell, NJ 07731 92%154$134,056$494,600$353 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, VA 22405 92%81$128,259$433,000$212 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Marietta, GA 30064 92%569$122,195$466,700$194 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Bartlett, IL 60103 92%613$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Marietta, GA 30062 91%560$132,631$491,200$220 larger
South Lyon, MI 48178 91%406$131,558$410,500$203 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Frankfort, IL 60423 91%587$136,730$398,200$215 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Norton, MA 02766 90%349$124,535$501,400$312 smaller
Londonderry, NH 03053 90%374$134,038$507,600$308 Very close on everything we compare
Clarkston, MI 48348 90%405$129,410$444,500$212 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
New Lenox, IL 60451 90%594$137,404$393,100$212 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 89%94$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Monroe, CT 06468 88%236$157,250$503,200$275 smaller
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 88%96$157,009$488,100$252 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Flemington, NJ 08822 88%134$137,788$536,900$310 pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Chesapeake, VA 23322 88%198$134,880$463,300$239 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Hollywood, FL 33029 88%951$146,237$619,900$331 pricier homes ($128K more)
Odessa, FL 33556 88%845$149,722$625,200$266 pricier homes ($133K more) · newer homes
Commerce Township, MI 48382 88%403$137,768$420,200$215 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Lemont, IL 60439 88%598$121,724$480,800$264 smaller · older residents
Merrimack, NH 03054 87%369$127,303$458,700$264 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Medford, NJ 08055 87%118$155,710$496,400$259 older residents
Jackson, NJ 08527 87%149$115,487$485,800$299 larger

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.