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 Emmaus, PA 18049

Emmaus: median income $93,694, home value $315,700, $208/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Providence, RI 02911 94%229$89,456$360,200$251 pricier homes ($45K more)
Riverside, NJ 08075 94%45$94,407$307,400$243 larger
Wilmington, DE 19809 94%53$81,288$314,900$217 Very close on everything we compare
Greendale, WI 53129 93%665$95,012$311,800$231 Very close on everything we compare
Villa Park, IL 60181 93%655$92,142$311,500$269 larger · younger residents
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 92%658$94,336$317,900$244 Very close on everything we compare
Westfield, MA 01085 91%180$88,728$326,100$240 larger
Warwick, RI 02886 91%226$92,047$366,400$285 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Deptford, NJ 08096 91%60$89,013$269,000$222 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08619 91%47$105,946$352,500$300 pricier homes ($37K more)
Wilmington, DE 19808 91%55$94,234$337,800$213 larger
Worcester, MA 01606 90%228$92,105$370,800$317 pricier homes ($55K more)
Newington, CT 06111 90%165$102,884$310,400$251 larger
Hamden, CT 06514 90%146$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55420 90%948$82,170$328,400$207 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55422 90%954$93,914$325,900$199 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Des Plaines, IL 60018 90%650$90,574$318,100$272 Very close on everything we compare
Riverside, RI 02915 89%232$84,414$357,600$305 pricier homes ($42K more)
New Haven, CT 06512 89%145$96,146$289,100$286 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Stratford, CT 06615 89%132$81,534$364,700$306 pricier homes ($49K more)
Blackwood, NJ 08012 89%57$95,451$289,700$225 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · newer homes
Merchantville, NJ 08109 89%46$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Schenectady, NY 12302 89%180$98,163$255,700$220 cheaper homes ($60K less)
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 89%938$88,386$281,700$196 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55118 89%941$87,340$350,600$205 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · newer homes

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.