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 Phillipsburg, NJ 08865

Phillipsburg: median income $79,949, home value $267,200, $241/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westfield, MA 01085 92%158$88,728$326,100$240 pricier homes ($59K more)
Stratford, CT 06615 91%110$81,534$364,700$306 pricier homes ($98K more) · smaller
Pottstown, PA 19464 91%39$79,787$264,400$197 larger
Wilmington, DE 19804 90%73$79,701$264,100$219 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 90%672$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Racine, WI 53402 89%667$75,751$230,800$190 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Joliet, IL 60435 89%677$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Schenectady, NY 12303 88%156$84,375$238,100$226 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Schenectady, NY 12306 88%156$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Bangor, PA 18013 88%10$78,847$259,600$195 smaller
Webster, MA 01570 87%195$72,895$361,500$279 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
East Hartford, CT 06118 87%150$79,740$229,200$241 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Naugatuck, CT 06770 87%122$96,208$259,000$230 newer homes
Clairton, PA 15025 87%252$76,531$227,800$187 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Emmaus, PA 18049 87%22$93,694$315,700$208 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 87%127$67,060$260,300$187 Very close on everything we compare
Villa Park, IL 60181 87%670$92,142$311,500$269 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Hickory Hills, IL 60457 87%662$76,786$287,800$229 smaller · newer homes
Gardner, MA 01440 86%208$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($36K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Riverside, RI 02915 86%210$84,414$357,600$305 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
New Haven, CT 06512 86%123$96,146$289,100$286 6 min shorter commute
Torrington, CT 06790 86%130$70,912$215,600$191 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14224 86%237$80,052$238,500$205 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15227 86%254$75,448$185,100$163 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Whitehall, PA 18052 86%19$75,665$262,900$201 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.