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 Pennsburg, PA 18073

Pennsburg: median income $115,766, home value $369,300, $218/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hooksett, NH 03106 94%278$118,442$408,400$273 pricier homes ($39K more)
Slinger, WI 53086 94%688$103,426$387,100$214 Very close on everything we compare
Deforest, WI 53532 91%739$110,022$371,600$227 5 min shorter commute
Milton, VT 05468 90%318$114,709$372,200$255 more single-family homes
Lothian, MD 20711 90%126$113,576$429,000$224 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Milford, MI 48381 90%446$105,213$405,200$224 pricier homes ($36K more)
Manchester, NH 03109 89%276$108,144$387,900$305 Very close on everything we compare
New Gloucester, ME 04260 89%362$108,797$357,100$257 smaller
Lumberton, NJ 08048 89%46$113,440$432,100$232 pricier homes ($63K more) · more renters
Romeo, MI 48065 89%425$106,053$373,100$204 more single-family homes
Washington, MI 48094 89%422$98,017$418,200$204 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Roselle, IL 60172 89%664$110,750$346,800$244 larger · older homes
Plaistow, NH 03865 88%283$108,317$404,500$312 pricier homes ($35K more)
Bear, DE 19701 88%55$111,198$372,500$206 larger
Forest Hill, MD 21050 88%74$125,208$456,800$204 pricier homes ($88K more)
Havre De Grace, MD 21078 88%67$106,667$385,600$185 larger · older residents
Joppa, MD 21085 88%81$113,714$348,600$210 older homes
Walkersville, MD 21793 88%117$121,971$459,400$226 pricier homes ($90K more) · more single-family homes
North East, MD 21901 88%60$113,719$367,400$210 larger · more renters
Rockford, MN 55373 88%978$105,556$363,900$190 smaller
Wauconda, IL 60084 88%668$110,090$303,200$209 cheaper homes ($66K less)
South Elgin, IL 60177 88%675$126,144$340,000$219 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Mokena, IL 60448 88%651$120,761$385,900$208 larger · more single-family homes
Tinley Park, IL 60487 88%649$131,793$351,300$189 larger
Epping, NH 03042 87%292$104,220$436,900$319 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller

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.