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 Virginia Beach, VA 23457

Virginia Beach: median income $116,250, home value $571,000, $312/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seabeck, WA 98380 95%2,476$125,229$578,900$341 Very close on everything we compare
North Berwick, ME 03906 93%541$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Palo Cedro, CA 96073 93%2,482$120,469$567,000$274 Very close on everything we compare
Sanbornton, NH 03269 92%533$107,083$450,000$319 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
West Greenwich, RI 02817 91%419$135,625$535,400$274 cheaper homes ($36K less)
New Ipswich, NH 03071 91%477$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Nottingham, NH 03290 91%519$122,201$457,500$345 cheaper homes ($114K less)
New Egypt, NJ 08533 91%252$113,583$492,500$279 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Scandia, MN 55073 91%1,058$128,723$462,400$249 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Woodbridge, CA 95258 91%2,463$93,854$559,800$312 Very close on everything we compare
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 91%2,468$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Foster, RI 02825 90%424$112,593$445,600$272 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Sandown, NH 03873 90%506$135,040$483,400$324 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Lake Helen, FL 32744 90%608$112,599$453,700$238 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Cottontown, TN 37048 90%587$100,446$434,400$251 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 90%618$98,361$418,800$256 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Center Barnstead, NH 03225 89%529$111,660$368,400$327 cheaper homes ($203K less)
Stormville, NY 12582 89%362$133,328$468,600$291 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older homes
Eagleville, TN 37060 89%594$97,386$490,800$271 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 5 min longer commute
East Freetown, MA 02717 88%446$130,625$520,800$336 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Fremont, NH 03044 88%511$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Homestead, FL 33031 88%811$109,945$497,400$375 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Pegram, TN 37143 88%613$96,929$392,400$234 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Hudson, CO 80642 88%1,563$105,225$620,000$247 pricier homes ($49K more)
El Dorado, CA 95623 88%2,432$109,102$601,800$335 pricier homes ($31K more) · older 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.