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 Madera, CA 93636

Madera: median income $133,274, home value $542,100, $268/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pelham, NH 03076 93%2,572$135,956$552,600$312 Very close on everything we compare
Nottingham, NH 03290 90%2,578$122,201$457,500$345 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Oxford, CT 06478 90%2,492$128,953$472,400$285 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Hollywood, MD 20636 90%2,350$163,690$474,000$218 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($68K less)
Homer Glen, IL 60491 90%1,727$138,571$424,700$212 cheaper homes ($117K less) · older residents
Berthoud, CO 80513 90%829$126,726$600,600$249 pricier homes ($59K more)
Glendale, AZ 85310 90%489$122,137$552,900$276 6 min shorter commute
Colbert, WA 99005 90%763$125,530$561,100$216 Very close on everything we compare
Charlton, MA 01507 89%2,544$117,587$427,500$272 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Rutland, MA 01543 89%2,543$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Lakeville, MA 02347 89%2,599$133,984$565,900$358 Very close on everything we compare
West Greenwich, RI 02817 89%2,566$135,625$535,400$274 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Owings, MD 20736 89%2,343$159,851$567,700$223 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Stevensville, MD 21666 89%2,354$123,645$494,300$278 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Middletown, MD 21769 89%2,284$151,563$507,000$225 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 88%2,437$134,038$580,900$325 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 88%2,377$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Jefferson, MD 21755 88%2,285$137,417$529,600$241 smaller
Bulverde, TX 78163 88%1,328$140,594$435,600$207 cheaper homes ($107K less) · newer homes
Douglas, MA 01516 87%2,556$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Mendon, MA 01756 87%2,566$132,256$616,000$314 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Berkley, MA 02779 87%2,593$144,205$511,200$328 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
New Boston, NH 03070 87%2,550$154,000$480,300$284 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Centreville, MD 21617 87%2,368$116,898$483,700$218 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more renters
Mount Airy, MD 21771 87%2,304$157,302$556,200$241 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.