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 Sandy Hook, VA 23153

Sandy Hook: median income $122,096, home value $462,500, $245/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Prole, IA 50229 91%878$123,164$416,700— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Park City, MT 59063 91%1,678$99,432$449,200$280 Very close on everything we compare
Firth, NE 68358 89%1,019$111,705$434,300$221 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Croton, OH 43013 88%309$131,528$373,600$205 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Toquerville, UT 84774 88%1,928$97,813$563,200$277 pricier homes ($101K more)
Moreland, GA 30259 87%494$104,375$367,600$198 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Adams, TN 37010 87%514$118,179$424,900$213 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Mayer, MN 55360 87%962$122,117$354,600$193 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Currituck, NC 27929 86%139$132,713$429,500$209 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Lithopolis, OH 43136 86%299$114,375$335,400$187 cheaper homes ($127K less) · younger residents
Palo, IA 52324 86%792$115,917$327,400$200 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Elko New Market, MN 55020 86%928$131,071$455,500$211 larger · more homeowners
Lone Jack, MO 64070 86%883$130,364$370,400$207 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older residents
Arcadia, OK 73007 86%1,083$120,556$494,200$230 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more homeowners
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 85%112$111,419$393,600$200 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older homes
Eagleville, TN 37060 85%502$97,386$490,800$271 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Cologne, MN 55322 85%954$124,861$426,200$181 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Sanbornton, NH 03269 84%519$107,083$450,000$319 larger · older homes
Woodsboro, MD 21798 84%127$116,607$498,400$198 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Barneveld, WI 53507 84%727$113,261$347,400$224 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · older homes
Sobieski, WI 54171 84%714$113,698$349,100$217 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · more homeowners
Gunter, TX 75058 84%1,096$125,694$532,600$184 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Henefer, UT 84033 84%1,797$94,038$463,700$298 lower income ($28K less)
Pleasant View, TN 37146 83%512$110,938$373,500$209 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Dayton, MN 55327 83%953$140,366$492,400$214 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger

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.