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 Essington, PA 19029

Essington: median income $53,451, home value $207,400, $191/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Butler, WI 53007 84%697$60,000$244,700$218 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more renters
Turners Falls, MA 01376 81%237$55,652$249,400$223 pricier homes ($42K more)
Broadview, IL 60155 81%670$64,566$252,200$240 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Worth, IL 60482 81%665$55,709$208,900$197 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 78%4$65,070$200,200$207 larger · younger residents
Westville, NJ 08093 78%9$64,104$213,200$232 larger · younger residents
New York Mills, NY 13417 78%224$59,453$205,500$169 younger residents · more renters
Panama City, FL 32401 77%889$52,523$230,500$197 larger · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45217 77%492$62,200$171,300$128 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Francis, WI 53235 77%685$57,368$234,500$237 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Adams, MA 01220 76%222$58,929$209,900$193 larger · less walkable · older homes
Ellenville, NY 12428 76%137$63,145$238,400$199 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33714 76%933$47,487$199,700$277 larger · newer homes
Cudahy, WI 53110 76%684$66,719$216,500$203 larger
Duluth, MN 55808 76%970$62,031$174,200$160 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents · older homes
Lynchburg, VA 24504 75%266$52,571$179,700$124 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Schiller Park, IL 60176 75%672$69,696$275,000$219 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14218 74%273$54,748$150,200$167 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Cocoa, FL 32922 74%853$44,469$217,400$184 larger · younger residents · more renters
Summit Argo, IL 60501 74%668$63,244$234,300$215 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 73%358$62,411$197,500$171 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Troy, NY 12182 73%219$56,984$212,600$170 larger · younger residents · more renters
Oneida, NY 13421 73%224$65,752$162,000$136 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 72%215$55,324$237,200$219 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13209 72%228$68,138$161,400$190 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · 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.