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 Marcus Hook, PA 19061

Marcus Hook: median income $82,005, home value $252,400, $217/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meriden, CT 06451 95%181$71,255$239,800$217 Very close on everything we compare
Halethorpe, MD 21227 95%79$85,986$289,400$209 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Meriden, CT 06450 94%181$71,250$242,600$211 larger
Ansonia, CT 06401 93%162$86,178$285,800$236 pricier homes ($33K more)
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 93%18$76,654$239,400$235 smaller
Waterbury, CT 06708 92%172$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($34K less)
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 92%678$73,427$235,700$216 Very close on everything we compare
Bensenville, IL 60106 91%669$79,456$282,200$198 pricier homes ($30K more)
Norwich, CT 06360 90%211$65,539$245,700$203 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53220 90%685$69,319$229,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Schiller Park, IL 60176 90%665$69,696$275,000$219 smaller
West Warwick, RI 02893 89%242$77,608$330,800$268 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08610 89%46$83,906$264,600$282 larger
Cudahy, WI 53110 89%678$66,719$216,500$203 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55429 89%979$72,253$280,900$179 pricier homes ($29K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55432 89%975$79,520$301,800$187 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Joliet, IL 60435 89%675$76,369$235,500$184 larger · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06606 88%151$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08638 88%46$66,875$245,100$257 Very close on everything we compare
Schenectady, NY 12304 88%219$69,235$179,200$226 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Newark, DE 19713 88%19$76,493$292,600$215 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · newer homes
Waukegan, IL 60087 88%670$76,738$206,600$204 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more single-family homes
Elgin, IL 60120 88%686$82,449$242,300$205 larger
Gardner, MA 01440 87%261$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
New Bedford, MA 02745 87%268$74,034$368,600$316 pricier homes ($116K 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.