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 Croydon, PA 19021

Croydon: median income $70,199, home value $293,400, $264/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Athol, MA 01331 90%222$72,181$281,400$248 less walkable
Lawnside, NJ 08045 89%17$71,607$240,700$222 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Lyons, IL 60534 89%684$70,890$257,300$224 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more walkable
Toledo, OR 97391 89%2,485$62,292$352,900$283 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Hillside, IL 60162 88%689$72,320$246,800$283 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more walkable
Melrose Park, IL 60164 88%688$81,263$258,300$261 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Wilmington, DE 19804 87%46$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 86%19$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents
Port Jervis, NY 12771 86%90$68,136$261,100$234 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable
Midlothian, IL 60445 86%679$70,634$208,000$197 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75223 86%1,311$73,318$265,100$271 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters · more walkable
Youngtown, AZ 85363 86%2,100$68,321$320,000$214 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Pennsville, NJ 08070 85%45$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more homeowners
West Berlin, NJ 08091 85%20$75,238$302,600$263 smaller · older residents
Watertown, WI 53094 85%744$73,443$237,500$194 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · less walkable
Franklin Park, IL 60131 85%688$76,658$287,000$278 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Broadview, IL 60155 85%686$64,566$252,200$240 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more walkable
Uncasville, CT 06382 84%174$89,635$267,800$257 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 84%41$80,893$286,500$220 older residents · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23701 84%240$62,349$235,200$203 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33167 84%1,029$62,846$381,100$335 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
East Hartford, CT 06118 83%165$79,740$229,200$241 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 83%44$79,949$267,200$241 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Ellenville, NY 12428 83%115$63,145$238,400$199 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hampton, VA 23661 83%228$65,446$220,500$197 cheaper homes ($73K less)

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.