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 Cheltenham, PA 19012

Cheltenham: median income $125,625, home value $344,700, $205/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pitman, NJ 08071 86%23$100,085$282,400$243 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($62K less)
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 84%78$124,454$442,400$348 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Brookfield, IL 60513 83%676$110,338$332,400$267 larger
Riverton, NJ 08077 82%7$128,271$386,100$245 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Audubon, NJ 08106 80%12$111,002$304,800$280 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters
La Grange Park, IL 60526 80%677$120,308$439,800$308 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · older residents
Riverside, IL 60546 80%674$113,533$394,500$304 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Dunellen, NJ 08812 79%50$118,316$442,900$356 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60631 79%675$115,000$436,400$280 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Rumford, RI 02916 78%231$95,263$404,100$273 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 78%12$114,012$372,200$275 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 78%13$131,528$386,500$320 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Montrose, NY 10548 78%102$142,273$426,000$403 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Fords, NJ 08863 77%53$115,861$438,000$386 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090 77%102$138,119$410,400$233 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60655 77%667$114,723$324,300$257 larger · more single-family homes
Avon, MA 02322 76%255$130,625$509,600$335 pricier homes ($165K more)
Stratford, NJ 08084 75%17$98,427$273,800$257 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($71K less) · more renters
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 75%502$104,875$335,600$265 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Morton Grove, IL 60053 75%674$111,116$389,100$284 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Skokie, IL 60076 75%671$113,818$396,200$278 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Hamden, CT 06517 74%145$104,550$339,400$255 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Clifton, NJ 07014 74%74$119,545$462,400$384 pricier homes ($118K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Trenton, NJ 08619 74%25$105,946$352,500$300 larger · more renters · newer homes
Lincolnwood, IL 60712 74%671$109,731$496,400$250 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · older residents

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.