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 Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Mechanicsville: median income $141,711, home value $433,900, $228/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Prior Lake, MN 55372 96%965$145,499$467,400$206 pricier homes ($34K more)
Granville, OH 43023 95%325$142,852$473,100$220 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Springboro, OH 45066 95%395$131,250$393,500$181 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 94%182$157,009$488,100$252 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Summerfield, NC 27358 94%173$138,717$444,400$205 smaller
Clarkston, MI 48348 94%476$129,410$444,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Matthews, NC 28104 93%260$138,017$533,500$253 pricier homes ($100K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32312 93%633$123,032$432,100$228 Very close on everything we compare
Avon, OH 44011 93%361$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Brighton, MI 48114 93%479$124,063$405,400$213 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Commerce Township, MI 48382 93%470$137,768$420,200$215 5 min longer commute
Rockford, MI 49341 93%571$113,989$382,600$224 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less)
Kansas City, MO 64157 93%932$149,526$386,400$198 cheaper homes ($48K less) · newer homes
Harrisburg, NC 28075 92%246$144,288$482,800$205 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Crestwood, KY 40014 92%445$121,189$393,700$187 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Union, KY 41091 92%411$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 92%333$147,383$439,300$234 smaller · older residents
Watkinsville, GA 30677 91%431$110,250$435,600$220 lower income ($31K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37934 91%398$132,264$529,100$241 pricier homes ($95K more)
Plain City, OH 43064 91%361$139,591$461,900$230 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Elgin, IL 60124 91%658$139,982$430,900$211 5 min longer commute
Saint Charles, MO 63304 91%725$114,442$351,000$198 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($83K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64082 91%928$131,453$411,700$193 smaller
Helotes, TX 78023 91%1,347$134,007$412,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 90%205$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 6 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.