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.

Reset

Towns most like Acton, CA 93510

Acton: median income $121,023, home value $739,700, $366/sq ft, 48-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33187 85%2,322$115,206$574,300$352 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger
Ravensdale, WA 98051 85%909$136,439$790,500$444 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bailey, CO 80421 83%781$98,452$578,700$316 cheaper homes ($161K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Eatonville, WA 98328 83%882$103,696$591,800$355 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Roy, WA 98580 82%890$104,684$542,800$291 cheaper homes ($197K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Boring, OR 97009 81%788$106,650$647,500$335 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Allyn, WA 98524 81%922$99,483$526,800$306 cheaper homes ($213K less) · smaller · older residents
Eastport, NY 11941 78%2,497$123,750$705,800$348 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Geneva, FL 32732 78%2,205$119,205$487,600$280 cheaper homes ($252K less)
Oak Ridge, NJ 07438 77%2,403$123,271$436,900$280 cheaper homes ($303K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bluemont, VA 20135 77%2,237$114,219$573,500$347 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
New Windsor, MD 21776 77%2,274$133,409$461,600$214 cheaper homes ($278K less)
Elizabeth, CO 80107 77%823$135,262$684,800$221 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Kiowa, CO 80117 77%829$115,673$667,100$265 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Rochester, MA 02770 76%2,589$120,320$601,200$348 cheaper homes ($139K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Hewitt, NJ 07421 76%2,410$129,800$420,000$333 cheaper homes ($320K less) · older homes
Campbell Hall, NY 10916 76%2,415$135,556$492,400$295 cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Rixeyville, VA 22737 76%2,230$99,177$401,000$314 cheaper homes ($339K less) · smaller
Westtown, NY 10998 75%2,400$129,348$462,000$282 cheaper homes ($278K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Catlett, VA 20119 75%2,251$115,757$560,700$260 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hughesville, MD 20637 75%2,298$160,121$555,400$232 higher income ($39K more) · cheaper homes ($184K less)
White Hall, MD 21161 75%2,302$108,094$472,600$287 cheaper homes ($267K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Florence, MT 59833 75%866$94,097$551,600$333 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($188K less) · older residents
Camano Island, WA 98282 75%972$105,231$670,800$396 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Poughquag, NY 12570 74%2,444$128,906$466,200$246 cheaper homes ($274K less) · younger 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.