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 Taneytown, MD 21787

Taneytown: median income $91,682, home value $355,000, $208/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Littlestown, PA 17340 95%7$90,030$298,000$184 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Sandwich, IL 60548 95%616$82,957$262,100$206 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Lula, GA 30554 94%511$91,619$305,300$198 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Winchendon, MA 01475 93%338$76,552$323,800$251 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Hayes, VA 23072 93%168$74,559$311,500$224 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Kearneysville, WV 25430 93%48$86,806$299,900$187 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Highland, MI 48357 93%395$94,954$360,700$203 Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge, MN 55008 93%913$84,513$290,700$181 cheaper homes ($64K less)
North Branch, MN 55056 93%898$95,679$331,300$208 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, MN 55371 93%928$93,824$327,200$210 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Genoa, IL 60135 93%624$98,033$254,000$200 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Marengo, IL 60152 93%622$98,451$300,200$190 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Ashland City, TN 37015 92%586$79,092$299,900$237 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Holly, MI 48442 92%398$86,575$265,800$179 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Kewaskum, WI 53040 92%628$96,096$326,100$210 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Milaca, MN 56353 92%935$78,763$263,200$187 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Bridgeport, TX 76426 92%1,227$92,130$268,900$169 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Belfair, WA 98528 92%2,318$91,058$430,200$303 pricier homes ($75K more)
Front Royal, VA 22630 91%74$84,631$358,600$221 larger
Dover, FL 33527 91%857$80,464$387,000$238 pricier homes ($32K more)
Cedar Lake, IN 46303 91%554$84,211$293,500$197 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Brookville, IN 47012 91%417$84,958$257,800$160 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Osceola, WI 54020 91%880$74,702$306,500$202 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Island Lake, IL 60042 91%602$99,917$259,100$205 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Hillsboro, MO 63050 91%726$87,371$288,200$206 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 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.