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 Nellysford, VA 22958

Nellysford: median income $98,284, home value $487,500, $242/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Angel Fire, NM 87710 83%1,450$83,125$569,200$280 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Franconia, NH 03580 79%573$91,250$497,100$243 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Empire, MI 49630 76%603$106,375$497,600$336 smaller · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Douglas, MI 49406 75%505$102,500$497,100$426 smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
Egg Harbor, WI 54209 74%655$77,188$386,700$335 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Arnold, CA 95223 74%2,230$106,694$476,000$289 more single-family homes
Edisto Island, SC 29438 73%378$86,979$642,400$452 pricier homes ($155K more) · 6 min longer commute
Placida, FL 33946 73%789$85,848$660,800$247 pricier homes ($173K more)
Ouray, CO 81427 73%1,561$84,167$604,200$291 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller · younger residents
Melbourne Beach, FL 32951 72%689$98,420$567,300$354 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Sister Bay, WI 54234 72%658$74,583$456,300$339 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Leeds, MA 01053 71%449$92,582$356,900$299 cheaper homes ($131K less) · younger residents · older homes
Enfield, NH 03748 71%531$95,089$388,500$290 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · younger residents
Lincoln, NE 68520 71%963$94,244$511,500$227 younger residents · newer homes
Conway, MA 01341 70%456$97,417$396,400$257 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Kent, CT 06757 70%392$95,186$406,100$436 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents · more renters
Nags Head, NC 27959 70%229$91,264$490,800$424 younger residents · more walkable
Pinehurst, NC 28374 70%190$111,311$491,200$246 larger · more single-family homes
Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 70%482$108,632$571,100$344 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 70%1,220$91,452$483,200$281 larger · 7 min longer commute
Tubac, AZ 85646 70%1,866$73,438$491,300$237 smaller · older residents
La Conner, WA 98257 70%2,281$94,425$506,200$300 larger · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lenox, MA 01240 69%428$107,826$470,400$314 larger · older homes
Townshend, VT 05353 69%484$94,917$278,000$220 cheaper homes ($210K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hinesburg, VT 05461 69%537$109,712$460,200$315 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.