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 Swarthmore, PA 19081

Swarthmore: median income $134,135, home value $378,600, $283/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clifton, NJ 07014 82%91$119,545$462,400$384 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Collingswood, NJ 08108 79%15$108,151$395,300$332 lower income ($26K less) · larger · older residents
La Grange Park, IL 60526 79%667$120,308$439,800$308 pricier homes ($61K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Wheaton, IL 60187 78%680$119,769$433,700$321 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · newer homes
Oak Park, IL 60304 78%663$136,178$466,700$307 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30317 77%652$107,955$541,100$351 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($163K more) · larger
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 76%15$131,528$386,500$320 older residents · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55409 76%976$98,305$378,600$267 lower income ($36K less) · more renters · older homes
Chicago, IL 60631 76%666$115,000$436,400$280 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · older residents
Downers Grove, IL 60515 75%674$123,197$461,200$308 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older residents
La Grange, IL 60525 75%667$116,918$438,000$296 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Riverside, IL 60546 75%665$113,533$394,500$304 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45226 74%487$97,558$408,400$273 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53217 74%687$133,021$449,100$277 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55426 74%981$99,347$364,600$237 lower income ($35K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Wood Ridge, NJ 07075 73%93$136,108$566,200$418 pricier homes ($188K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 73%94$124,454$442,400$348 pricier homes ($64K more) · more single-family homes
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 73%18$114,012$372,200$275 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
River Forest, IL 60305 73%665$146,786$687,300$319 pricier homes ($309K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Nutley, NJ 07110 72%89$119,646$517,500$421 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · older residents
Orlando, FL 32804 72%855$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($182K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 72%489$104,875$335,600$265 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43221 72%409$118,768$446,900$279 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Royal Oak, MI 48067 72%443$112,840$335,200$265 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more renters
Stamford, CT 06905 71%126$136,757$618,400$413 pricier homes ($240K 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.