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 Owings, MD 20736

Owings: median income $159,851, home value $567,700, $223/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nokesville, VA 20181 96%51$164,167$709,300$264 pricier homes ($142K more)
Accokeek, MD 20607 95%22$151,427$559,000$215 Very close on everything we compare
Huntingtown, MD 20639 95%6$161,422$555,100$210 larger
Dunkirk, MD 20754 93%4$167,371$614,200$220 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Warrenton, VA 20187 92%61$176,435$646,400$239 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
New Boston, NH 03070 91%392$154,000$480,300$284 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Monrovia, MD 21770 91%57$183,571$632,500$240 pricier homes ($65K more)
Myersville, MD 21773 91%77$161,908$544,400$212 smaller · older residents
Rutland, MA 01543 90%353$145,707$462,800$286 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Finksburg, MD 21048 90%58$131,921$459,000$201 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less)
Middletown, MD 21769 90%72$151,563$507,000$225 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Mount Airy, MD 21771 90%57$157,302$556,200$241 larger
Glenn Dale, MD 20769 89%22$139,773$580,500$214 older residents
Ijamsville, MD 21754 89%57$182,188$647,300$236 pricier homes ($80K more)
Madera, CA 93636 89%2,343$133,274$542,100$268 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Hughesville, MD 20637 88%15$160,121$555,400$232 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Elizabeth, CO 80107 88%1,497$135,262$684,800$221 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Brookline, NH 03033 87%381$171,046$544,400$245 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Stewartsville, NJ 08886 87%159$161,168$447,100$272 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Baldwin, MD 21013 87%57$171,354$572,100$238 smaller · older homes
Jeffersonton, VA 22724 87%70$143,182$551,200$184 smaller
Lovettsville, VA 20180 86%67$151,483$664,400$238 pricier homes ($97K more)
Woodbine, MD 21797 86%51$189,241$735,600$259 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($168K more) · older residents
Douglas, MA 01516 85%345$153,172$467,000$291 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Poughquag, NY 12570 85%254$128,906$466,200$246 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($102K less) · 5 min longer commute

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.

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