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 Elkins Park, PA 19027

Elkins Park: median income $106,066, home value $391,600, $208/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21212 86%93$96,685$373,700$254 larger · younger residents
Towson, MD 21286 86%89$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Evanston, IL 60202 84%667$98,989$397,600$300 larger
Chicago, IL 60656 83%676$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 82%90$96,717$363,100$337 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Chicago, IL 60630 82%671$98,860$384,500$282 larger
Collingswood, NJ 08108 80%12$108,151$395,300$332 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60631 80%673$115,000$436,400$280 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pikesville, MD 21208 79%98$90,131$337,900$194 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 78%12$100,951$331,200$254 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Oak Park, IL 60302 78%671$100,680$474,200$287 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older homes
La Grange Park, IL 60526 78%675$120,308$439,800$308 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Yonkers, NY 10710 77%91$108,845$560,000$392 pricier homes ($168K more)
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 77%683$99,743$390,000$261 7 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Hamden, CT 06517 76%146$104,550$339,400$255 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Nutley, NJ 07110 75%72$119,646$517,500$421 pricier homes ($126K more)
Worcester, MA 01602 74%229$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Rumford, RI 02916 74%232$95,263$404,100$273 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Columbia, MD 21045 74%109$118,563$453,700$255 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · younger residents
Catonsville, MD 21228 74%102$112,656$404,700$239 larger · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Rocky River, OH 44116 74%364$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 12 min shorter commute
Skokie, IL 60077 74%671$78,523$355,900$277 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · 7 min shorter commute
La Grange, IL 60525 74%675$116,918$438,000$296 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Westmont, IL 60559 74%680$90,963$365,300$280 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60646 74%671$112,525$503,900$311 pricier homes ($112K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes

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.