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 Arrington, VA 22922

Arrington: median income $60,125, home value $226,000, $206/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Mesa, NM 88044 96%1,617$64,910$234,200$187 Very close on everything we compare
Strong, ME 04983 92%669$53,894$190,500$195 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Freedom, ME 04941 91%685$65,662$214,000$216 5 min shorter commute
Sugar Grove, NC 28679 91%188$65,246$287,100$291 pricier homes ($61K more)
Addison, MI 49220 91%412$72,500$225,200$190 Very close on everything we compare
West Burke, VT 05871 90%603$74,572$277,900$209 pricier homes ($52K more)
Equinunk, PA 18417 90%348$63,333$257,700$179 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Cedar Grove, NC 27231 90%104$64,471$248,900$244 5 min shorter commute
Berlin Center, OH 44401 90%254$71,953$237,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Leslie, MO 63056 90%670$75,517$211,300$174 Very close on everything we compare
Union, ME 04862 89%678$73,536$252,300$246 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
New Sharon, ME 04955 89%668$63,889$171,200$152 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Alexandria, PA 16611 89%203$70,887$167,500— cheaper homes ($59K less)
Bear Creek, NC 27207 89%145$70,211$205,700$200 larger
Guysville, OH 45735 89%194$51,364$149,300$237 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Askov, MN 55704 89%919$62,500$234,300$208 smaller
Houston, MN 55943 89%782$72,411$239,600$209 older homes
Garwood, TX 77442 89%1,156$70,859$237,100$155 smaller
Hiram, ME 04041 88%600$62,813$256,600$325 pricier homes ($31K more)
Brooks, ME 04921 88%696$63,646$210,300$200 5 min shorter commute
Newfoundland, PA 18445 88%315$53,429$247,700$209 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, WV 26374 88%131$57,321$162,300$145 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Springfield, WV 26763 88%123$68,384$261,500$186 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Cornersville, TN 37047 88%467$64,688$260,100$201 pricier homes ($34K more)
Walling, TN 38587 88%390$51,500$249,600$248 smaller

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.