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 Scandia, MN 55073

Scandia: median income $128,723, home value $462,400, $249/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Foster, RI 02825 96%1,081$112,593$445,600$272 Very close on everything we compare
Pylesville, MD 21132 96%919$132,288$485,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Palo Cedro, CA 96073 96%1,514$120,469$567,000$274 pricier homes ($105K more)
Ashburnham, MA 01430 94%1,052$118,683$391,700$275 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Midland, VA 22728 94%903$120,789$516,300$262 pricier homes ($54K more)
Deerfield, NH 03037 93%1,076$130,371$424,000$293 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Newton, NH 03858 93%1,091$138,487$459,500$290 older residents
Stormville, NY 12582 93%990$133,328$468,600$291 Very close on everything we compare
Brimfield, MA 01010 92%1,051$111,250$389,100$247 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Sanbornton, NH 03269 92%1,051$107,083$450,000$319 Very close on everything we compare
Pequea, PA 17565 92%916$125,313$340,100$247 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Cochranville, PA 19330 92%935$109,779$387,100$223 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Jefferson, MD 21755 92%879$137,417$529,600$241 pricier homes ($67K more)
Montpelier, VA 23192 92%935$110,642$428,700$233 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Assonet, MA 02702 91%1,113$153,038$516,100$293 pricier homes ($54K more)
East Freetown, MA 02717 91%1,118$130,625$520,800$336 pricier homes ($58K more)
Candia, NH 03034 91%1,074$131,350$412,700$294 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Dunbarton, NH 03046 91%1,058$124,348$484,100$272 older residents
Nottingham, NH 03290 91%1,083$122,201$457,500$345 Very close on everything we compare
Sandown, NH 03873 91%1,083$135,040$483,400$324 larger
Marlborough, CT 06447 91%1,049$142,105$379,100$227 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Milford, NJ 08848 91%951$138,614$440,200$270 larger
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 91%1,058$116,250$571,000$312 pricier homes ($109K more)
West Greenwich, RI 02817 90%1,088$135,625$535,400$274 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fremont, NH 03044 90%1,085$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($46K 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.