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 Lawrence Township, NJ 08648

Lawrence Township: median income $125,514, home value $428,000, $294/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenixville, PA 19460 95%42$124,050$455,900$251 pricier homes ($28K more)
Columbia, MD 21045 95%131$118,563$453,700$255 pricier homes ($26K more)
Decatur, GA 30033 92%687$111,616$455,300$265 pricier homes ($27K more)
Atlanta, GA 30316 91%693$102,891$443,400$299 Very close on everything we compare
Germantown, MD 20876 90%150$119,731$487,300$264 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Columbia, MD 21046 90%134$127,813$479,500$252 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 90%700$99,743$390,000$261 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($38K less)
Palatine, IL 60067 90%703$125,446$426,600$257 Very close on everything we compare
Media, PA 19063 89%40$127,368$548,900$303 pricier homes ($121K more) · older residents
West Chester, PA 19382 89%49$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Annapolis, MD 21403 89%128$123,329$582,500$366 pricier homes ($155K more) · older residents
Cary, NC 27511 89%378$107,860$456,000$286 pricier homes ($28K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Roswell, GA 30076 89%678$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($62K more)
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 89%700$128,979$424,200$280 larger · more homeowners
Lansdale, PA 19446 88%29$106,310$441,100$257 larger
Columbia, MD 21044 88%133$135,057$566,500$250 pricier homes ($139K more)
Frederick, MD 21701 88%147$106,577$435,000$230 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30345 88%685$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($146K more)
Lisle, IL 60532 88%704$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Naperville, IL 60563 88%708$109,783$435,600$271 Very close on everything we compare
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 87%204$101,901$457,600$362 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
West Chester, PA 19380 87%48$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Laurel, MD 20723 87%135$138,113$525,400$255 pricier homes ($97K more) · newer homes
Catonsville, MD 21228 87%124$112,656$404,700$239 larger
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 87%700$129,401$412,200$245 more homeowners

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.