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 Sandston, VA 23150

Sandston: median income $79,050, home value $283,000, $228/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swanton, VT 05488 96%555$77,154$288,700$225 Very close on everything we compare
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 92%200$80,893$286,500$220 older residents
Saint Clair, MI 48079 92%459$79,891$293,000$179 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, WI 53549 92%716$80,101$262,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonville, MO 64701 92%929$78,648$262,000$176 younger residents
Uncasville, CT 06382 91%387$89,635$267,800$257 older homes
Lampasas, TX 76550 91%1,271$78,578$241,600$184 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Taylor, TX 76574 91%1,245$78,568$297,500$176 larger · 6 min longer commute
Greenwood, DE 19950 90%128$75,305$292,900$202 smaller
Seffner, FL 33584 90%719$72,267$311,300$214 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Maryville, TN 37804 90%385$79,025$272,500$215 larger
Saint Clairsville, OH 43950 90%267$76,175$225,900$177 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Canal Fulton, OH 44614 90%328$83,671$208,900$205 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Saint Johns, MI 48879 90%540$79,129$229,100$177 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Watertown, WI 53098 90%721$74,431$253,600$216 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Milton, WI 53563 90%715$89,528$293,800$229 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, IL 60481 90%636$79,042$232,600$194 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Weed, CA 96094 90%2,394$68,103$332,300$208 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Warren, ME 04864 89%620$74,616$232,700$251 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Kannapolis, NC 28081 89%233$71,665$285,100$207 larger
Lenoir City, TN 37771 89%405$66,938$279,600$214 Very close on everything we compare
Plainwell, MI 49080 89%557$74,864$258,300$195 less walkable
Winterset, IA 50273 89%930$82,633$219,400$200 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Luxemburg, WI 54217 89%729$89,489$284,700$228 smaller
Waupaca, WI 54981 89%776$72,640$218,700$193 cheaper homes ($64K less)

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.