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 Riverside, NJ 08075

Riverside: median income $94,407, home value $307,400, $243/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westfield, MA 01085 97%185$88,728$326,100$240 Very close on everything we compare
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 96%695$94,336$317,900$244 Very close on everything we compare
Emmaus, PA 18049 94%45$93,694$315,700$208 smaller
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 94%699$90,774$306,300$241 Very close on everything we compare
Villa Park, IL 60181 94%691$92,142$311,500$269 Very close on everything we compare
Wallingford, CT 06492 93%149$105,061$353,600$262 pricier homes ($46K more)
Wilmington, DE 19808 93%43$94,234$337,800$213 pricier homes ($30K more)
Naugatuck, CT 06770 92%142$96,208$259,000$230 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 5 min longer commute
Souderton, PA 18964 92%27$96,143$356,100$253 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Greendale, WI 53129 92%704$95,012$311,800$231 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Lombard, IL 60148 92%693$100,616$344,100$252 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Warwick, RI 02886 91%216$92,047$366,400$285 pricier homes ($59K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 91%693$93,494$347,000$258 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents
Schaumburg, IL 60193 91%698$95,972$329,900$259 Very close on everything we compare
Bolingbrook, IL 60440 91%695$93,494$277,000$210 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Woodridge, IL 60517 91%694$99,024$361,700$229 pricier homes ($54K more) · newer homes
Hatboro, PA 19040 90%13$114,293$384,900$285 pricier homes ($78K more)
Lanham, MD 20706 90%125$104,523$429,000$242 pricier homes ($122K more)
Waukesha, WI 53188 90%718$92,409$348,600$237 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Addison, IL 60101 90%693$90,800$338,800$233 pricier homes ($31K more)
Roselle, IL 60172 90%697$110,750$346,800$244 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hamden, CT 06514 89%140$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Schenectady, NY 12302 89%203$98,163$255,700$220 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Coraopolis, PA 15108 89%279$100,859$272,400$186 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Gettysburg, PA 17325 89%121$80,948$287,200$191 Very close on everything we compare

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.