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 Lancaster, VA 22503

Lancaster: median income $74,051, home value $272,000, $211/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 94%400$71,417$253,600$208 smaller
Central Lake, MI 49622 93%680$70,098$234,400$278 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Amherst, WI 54406 93%810$77,533$284,800$186 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, VT 05143 92%434$70,610$255,200$230 Very close on everything we compare
Micanopy, FL 32667 92%659$81,659$258,300$197 Very close on everything we compare
Gregory, MI 48137 92%518$78,973$306,800$228 pricier homes ($35K more)
Onsted, MI 49265 92%503$77,931$274,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Stanwood, MI 49346 92%619$72,975$233,800$177 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Bear Lake, MI 49614 92%682$72,250$223,100$201 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Panora, IA 50216 92%986$79,635$228,600$261 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Newfane, VT 05345 91%414$67,472$277,700$231 smaller
Brandon, VT 05733 91%456$68,831$248,200$218 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsford, VT 05763 91%451$71,833$218,600$186 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Danville, VT 05828 91%516$72,121$279,100$208 smaller
Spring Mills, PA 16875 91%223$71,250$307,700$211 pricier homes ($36K more)
Dauphin, PA 17018 91%184$72,188$238,700$170 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cement City, MI 49233 91%511$81,250$229,600$196 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Nevis, MN 56467 91%1,128$74,297$318,000$263 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 91%1,169$79,475$298,800$226 pricier homes ($27K more)
Whitefield, ME 04353 90%573$73,875$242,300$247 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Surry, ME 04684 90%624$74,508$296,300$251 smaller
Pocono Lake, PA 18347 90%239$84,389$230,400$223 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more renters
Swanton, MD 21561 90%190$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Rapid City, MI 49676 90%670$75,781$269,300$290 younger residents
Indian River, MI 49749 90%675$65,608$244,300$234 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 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.