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.

Reset

Towns most like Ambler, PA 19002

Ambler: median income $143,600, home value $602,100, $292/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Greenwich, RI 02818 94%220$139,217$613,500$342 smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 94%60$153,762$589,900$398 Very close on everything we compare
Northbrook, IL 60062 94%670$143,323$632,500$312 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Wheaton, IL 60189 94%680$128,878$482,800$259 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 93%92$125,528$477,700$252 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Naperville, IL 60540 93%682$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 92%233$139,302$592,300$353 Very close on everything we compare
Moorestown, NJ 08057 92%20$158,770$680,200$308 pricier homes ($78K more)
Farmington, CT 06032 91%164$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 90%677$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 90%679$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 89%24$155,059$443,400$252 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Flemington, NJ 08822 89%30$137,788$536,900$310 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Libertyville, IL 60048 89%677$173,975$551,200$288 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($51K less) · more single-family homes
Downers Grove, IL 60515 89%676$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Caldwell, NJ 07006 88%68$149,102$694,400$434 pricier homes ($92K more) · older homes
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 88%672$134,724$599,900$331 smaller
Palatine, IL 60067 88%680$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 88%676$129,401$412,200$245 cheaper homes ($190K less)
Littleton, CO 80122 88%1,570$128,691$634,400$256 pricier homes ($32K more) · more walkable
Franklin, MA 02038 87%238$145,773$611,700$343 newer homes
Randolph, NJ 07869 87%57$169,497$665,700$351 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($64K more)
Chantilly, VA 20151 87%149$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($75K more) · newer homes
Derwood, MD 20855 87%126$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Springfield, VA 22152 87%145$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($46K more)

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.