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 Elk Mills, MD 21920

Elk Mills: median income $124,146, home value $356,000, $172/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Anthony, IN 47575 88%597$125,625$318,900— cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Thrall, TX 76578 80%1,360$105,063$341,300$166 more homeowners
Glennallen, AK 99588 79%3,214$110,136$290,600$148 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ashford, CT 06278 77%247$121,875$335,500$271 larger
Malaga, NJ 08328 77%41$101,583$236,900$247 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Schuyler, VA 22969 76%201$94,659$314,200$234 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Henderson, MN 56044 76%985$101,250$333,600$143 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Kingston, IL 60145 76%696$108,477$268,300$191 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · more homeowners
Old Monroe, MO 63369 75%800$96,250$339,400$228 lower income ($28K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Danbury, TX 77534 75%1,320$105,741$245,700$148 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · more homeowners
Sterling, CT 06377 74%254$97,308$275,900$298 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Dorothy, NJ 08317 74%56$106,696$326,300$272 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Kenansville, FL 34739 74%867$101,319$238,700$208 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Woodlawn, TN 37191 74%672$91,455$271,000$197 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Kirkland, IL 60146 74%701$88,032$222,000$181 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger
Granger, TX 76530 74%1,362$106,250$288,300$190 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older residents
Byers, CO 80103 74%1,502$102,656$501,900$235 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lake Helen, FL 32744 73%799$112,599$453,700$238 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Clarksville, OH 45113 73%434$104,750$280,200$221 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bethel, MN 55005 73%968$109,107$340,600$178 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Shafer, MN 55074 73%946$106,625$297,500$225 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · more homeowners
Maple Park, IL 60151 73%685$117,450$347,400$193 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Union, IL 60180 73%685$110,070$349,100$201 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners · older homes
Hinckley, IL 60520 73%686$98,958$320,500$190 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Raymond, NE 68428 73%1,105$115,000$385,600$198 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents · more homeowners

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.