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 Pen Argyl, PA 18072

Pen Argyl: median income $80,716, home value $253,100, $176/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Palmyra, NJ 08065 88%60$89,574$234,800$213 Very close on everything we compare
Winsted, CT 06098 86%136$66,269$247,900$216 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14219 86%227$78,569$192,900$183 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19804 83%81$79,701$264,100$219 larger · younger residents
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 82%155$81,205$258,800$226 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Beverly, NJ 08010 82%58$88,037$260,000$201 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
New Britain, CT 06052 81%140$80,506$260,000$179 younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Ellenville, NY 12428 81%75$63,145$238,400$199 younger residents · more renters
Springfield, VT 05156 80%222$66,679$204,300$162 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 80%69$76,654$239,400$235 larger · younger residents
Lawnside, NJ 08045 80%69$71,607$240,700$222 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Waterford, NY 12188 80%158$92,279$281,400$228 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Hillside, IL 60162 80%658$72,320$246,800$283 more walkable
Lyons, IL 60534 80%654$70,890$257,300$224 younger residents · more walkable
Ware, MA 01082 79%184$69,018$292,000$219 pricier homes ($39K more) · less walkable
Fair Haven, VT 05743 79%217$68,409$196,100$165 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · younger residents
Oakville, CT 06779 79%124$95,798$277,000$256 more single-family homes
Highland, IN 46322 79%635$78,062$233,300$168 larger · newer homes
Athol, MA 01331 78%198$72,181$281,400$248 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Pennsville, NJ 08070 78%84$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 78%12$79,949$267,200$241 larger · younger residents
Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 78%172$68,056$173,800$153 cheaper homes ($79K less) · less walkable
Delaware City, DE 19706 78%90$83,681$263,000$218 smaller · younger residents
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 78%663$73,427$235,700$216 larger · younger residents
Gardner, MA 01440 77%207$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more renters

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.