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 Castleton, VA 22716

Castleton: median income $141,458, home value $581,000, $324/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pilot Hill, CA 95664 77%2,292$117,901$506,500$302 cheaper homes ($75K less) · newer homes
Longbranch, WA 98351 76%2,302$151,660$752,100$415 pricier homes ($171K more) · larger · younger residents
Webster, MN 55088 72%886$132,917$510,300$245 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · younger residents
Hydesville, CA 95547 71%2,424$96,827$481,100$358 lower income ($45K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · younger residents
Port Republic, NJ 08241 69%205$123,438$462,100$241 cheaper homes ($119K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Kintnersville, PA 18930 69%204$127,072$524,000$253 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Washoe Valley, NV 89704 69%2,221$118,017$680,000$446 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Warren, OR 97053 69%2,312$142,538$527,300$415 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
East Wakefield, NH 03830 68%507$99,960$353,400$340 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($228K less) · younger residents
Grant, FL 32949 68%750$130,651$580,600$250 larger · newer homes
Harsens Island, MI 48028 68%361$109,730$390,800$248 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($190K less) · older residents
Valleyford, WA 99036 68%2,046$121,518$647,300$262 pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents
Gilmanton Iron Works, NH 03837 67%488$119,712$409,600$286 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Shokan, NY 12481 67%311$124,286$303,900$336 cheaper homes ($277K less) · older homes
Helenville, WI 53137 67%630$116,550$366,200$251 cheaper homes ($215K less) · younger residents
Mulino, OR 97042 66%2,299$118,045$687,700$341 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · younger residents
Fall Creek, OR 97438 66%2,315$125,156$584,900$319 younger residents · more renters
Candia, NH 03034 65%471$131,350$412,700$294 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · younger residents
Copake, NY 12516 65%341$128,750$309,700$292 cheaper homes ($271K less) · larger
Bushwood, MD 20618 65%75$105,508$355,000$290 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($226K less) · younger residents
Shady Side, MD 20764 65%88$118,857$432,700$298 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · younger residents
Lyons, OR 97358 65%2,305$95,391$491,500$325 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Sunderland, MD 20689 64%83$161,833$490,500$205 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · younger residents
Ray, MI 48096 64%381$117,917$377,700$227 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · younger residents
Elbert, CO 80106 64%1,419$136,852$748,800$295 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger · younger 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.