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 Free Union, VA 22940

Free Union: median income $204,706, home value $1,359,400, $256/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
El Granada, CA 94018 69%2,372$230,053$1,430,200— higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Bucyrus, KS 66013 68%871$164,320$724,500$234 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($635K less) · larger
West Tisbury, MA 02575 63%477$173,417$1,306,300— lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
West River, MD 20778 63%119$205,974$716,500$307 cheaper homes ($643K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Newfields, NH 03856 60%520$197,885$646,400$371 cheaper homes ($713K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Penryn, CA 95663 59%2,282$155,917$960,800$540 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($399K less) · larger
Hampton Falls, NH 03844 58%519$165,509$764,900$354 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($595K less) · larger
West Friendship, MD 21794 58%116$231,466$999,400$230 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($360K less) · larger
Wayne, IL 60184 57%573$163,750$642,700$239 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($717K less) · larger
Defiance, MO 63341 57%663$170,598$606,800$224 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($753K less) · larger
Portland, OR 97231 57%2,302$137,527$858,200$268 lower income ($67K less) · cheaper homes ($501K less) · larger
Greenland, NH 03840 56%525$162,837$662,800$390 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($697K less) · larger
Crownsville, MD 21032 56%123$168,653$682,100$286 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($677K less) · larger
Davidsonville, MD 21035 56%117$188,347$831,500$273 cheaper homes ($528K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Lexington, KY 40510 56%326$161,938$695,400$207 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($664K less) · larger
Byfield, MA 01922 55%511$142,207$804,900$375 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($555K less) · larger
Long Lake, MN 55356 55%904$156,622$707,800$295 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($652K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73151 55%1,054$147,250$667,000$235 lower income ($57K less) · cheaper homes ($692K less) · larger
Carnation, WA 98014 55%2,255$164,306$940,600$446 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($419K less) · larger
Auburn, NH 03032 54%504$153,253$600,300$294 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($759K less) · larger
Hollis, NH 03049 54%484$168,883$675,900$286 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($684K less) · larger
Millstone Township, NJ 08535 54%252$209,732$734,100$329 cheaper homes ($625K less) · larger · 13 min longer commute
West Newbury, MA 01985 53%510$179,500$808,200$387 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($551K less) · larger
Mont Vernon, NH 03057 53%487$156,250$518,400$275 lower income ($48K less) · cheaper homes ($841K less) · larger
Millington, NJ 07946 53%276$208,587$801,700$417 cheaper homes ($558K less) · larger · 10 min longer 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.