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 Spotsylvania, VA 22553

Spotsylvania: median income $135,856, home value $480,200, $210/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waldorf, MD 20603 94%44$137,946$453,700$198 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 94%60$125,732$455,100$200 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Townsend, DE 19734 90%131$127,803$430,700$211 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 5 min shorter commute
La Plata, MD 20646 90%40$131,974$450,200$214 cheaper homes ($30K less)
White Plains, MD 20695 90%42$141,959$470,900$194 more apartments and townhomes
Lithia, FL 33547 90%767$123,258$524,300$221 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Justin, TX 76247 89%1,158$124,383$397,900$184 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Brandywine, MD 20613 88%53$151,422$530,000$222 pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Chesapeake Beach, MD 20732 88%66$140,304$448,700$261 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Rutland, MA 01543 87%413$145,707$462,800$286 smaller
Chester, NY 10918 87%279$140,550$459,700$263 older homes
Charles Town, WV 25414 87%70$105,500$391,700$180 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Poughquag, NY 12570 86%312$128,906$466,200$246 smaller · older homes
Waldorf, MD 20601 86%49$117,480$402,100$200 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Centreville, MD 21617 86%102$116,898$483,700$218 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Apollo Beach, FL 33572 86%776$122,130$472,800$217 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
La Vernia, TX 78121 86%1,323$120,048$402,600$222 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Liberty Hill, TX 78642 86%1,266$132,958$506,600$196 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Johnstown, CO 80534 86%1,460$129,024$553,300$221 pricier homes ($73K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Lake Elsinore, CA 92532 86%2,223$122,312$610,900$267 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger
Orting, WA 98360 86%2,309$125,842$505,200$286 pricier homes ($25K more)
Bryans Road, MD 20616 85%40$128,177$387,000$200 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 85%51$121,654$416,900$230 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Manhattan, IL 60442 85%589$127,986$355,900$194 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Waxahachie, TX 75167 85%1,157$117,714$411,200$202 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 7 min shorter commute

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.