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 Berlin, MD 21811

Berlin: median income $90,082, home value $388,900, $265/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Loudon, TN 37774 96%536$87,718$365,100$253 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca, SC 29672 94%496$90,650$482,100$271 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Barnegat, NJ 08005 93%110$93,584$395,800$267 Very close on everything we compare
Weaverville, NC 28787 93%445$78,604$401,700$266 younger residents
Greensboro, GA 30642 93%555$95,527$496,400$262 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Melbourne, FL 32934 93%774$104,369$416,100$241 pricier homes ($27K more)
Hendersonville, NC 28739 92%455$73,582$394,900$273 Very close on everything we compare
Mesa, AZ 85215 92%2,058$98,831$441,000$278 pricier homes ($52K more)
Milton, DE 19968 91%30$87,163$437,000$240 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · newer homes
Vero Beach, FL 32967 91%796$78,058$423,500$243 pricier homes ($35K more)
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 91%1,732$84,270$486,000$342 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller
Hendersonville, NC 28791 89%455$78,827$370,700$236 smaller
Port Orange, FL 32128 89%718$95,831$422,300$225 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Palm Coast, FL 32137 89%698$83,923$402,600$206 larger · 6 min longer commute
Fairhope, AL 36532 89%903$89,694$432,600$230 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · younger residents
Waterford, WI 53185 89%747$103,225$384,600$246 younger residents
Bella Vista, AR 72715 89%1,056$82,447$290,900$221 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Sierra Vista, AZ 85650 89%2,027$91,654$327,000$193 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dagsboro, DE 19939 88%15$89,806$420,700$245 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Saint Augustine, FL 32086 88%685$76,512$382,800$225 Very close on everything we compare
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 88%866$101,959$446,200$256 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986 88%819$80,047$408,800$194 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 88%1,457$75,237$463,300$284 pricier homes ($74K more)
Grass Valley, CA 95949 88%2,448$98,181$550,800$302 pricier homes ($162K more)
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 87%357$90,684$463,200$244 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · older residents

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.