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 Ashton, MD 20861

Ashton: median income $163,438, home value $852,700, $224/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, MD 21036 83%6$218,036$881,300$264 higher income ($55K more) · pricier homes ($29K more)
Wayne, IL 60184 83%622$163,750$642,700$239 cheaper homes ($210K less)
Glencoe, MO 63038 80%736$186,450$580,800$193 cheaper homes ($272K less) · larger
Larkspur, CO 80118 80%1,486$158,155$886,900$248 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Waterford, VA 20197 79%34$190,703$1,080,200$310 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($228K more) · smaller
Waterbury Center, VT 05677 78%423$157,139$577,200$295 cheaper homes ($276K less)
Highland, MD 20777 78%3$226,146$861,900$282 higher income ($63K more) · younger residents
Phoenix, MD 21131 77%32$197,619$686,000$226 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger
Thornton, PA 19373 76%94$192,708$755,800$277 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($97K less) · younger residents
Marriottsville, MD 21104 76%13$191,804$680,200$243 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger
Richboro, PA 18954 75%129$159,857$626,700$265 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · older homes
Brookeville, MD 20833 75%4$204,375$797,100$284 higher income ($41K more) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Monkton, MD 21111 75%36$136,304$607,200$235 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($246K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85045 75%1,986$153,583$634,600$280 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · younger residents
Washington Crossing, PA 18977 74%137$211,719$736,200$324 higher income ($48K more) · cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87122 74%1,641$169,041$650,200$264 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
West Newbury, MA 01985 73%402$179,500$808,200$387 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · less walkable
Saunderstown, RI 02874 73%335$159,861$713,700$396 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · younger residents
Charlotte, VT 05445 73%406$144,375$695,300$377 cheaper homes ($157K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Allentown, NJ 08501 72%145$146,182$588,800$312 cheaper homes ($264K less) · larger
Poolesville, MD 20837 72%22$174,063$772,300$243 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
West Friendship, MD 21794 72%10$231,466$999,400$230 higher income ($68K more) · pricier homes ($147K more) · younger residents
Overland Park, KS 66224 72%946$188,004$652,300$225 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78266 72%1,376$146,792$586,600$203 cheaper homes ($266K less) · larger · less walkable
Newfields, NH 03856 71%412$197,885$646,400$371 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($206K 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.

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