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 Paoli, PA 19301

Paoli: median income $167,348, home value $550,100, $344/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moorestown, NJ 08057 87%28$158,770$680,200$308 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Deerfield, IL 60015 86%660$183,125$606,000$302 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Highland Park, IL 60035 86%658$168,094$607,300$338 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
West Hartford, CT 06117 85%187$171,707$472,300$271 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Elm Grove, WI 53122 85%683$157,962$514,800$268 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min shorter commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 84%237$139,217$613,500$342 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 84%76$153,762$589,900$398 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Libertyville, IL 60048 83%666$173,975$551,200$288 larger
Springfield, NJ 07081 82%76$155,906$636,600$401 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more renters
Ramsey, NJ 07446 82%99$160,996$697,300$450 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 82%664$162,826$611,900$276 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents · newer homes
Farmington, CT 06032 81%181$140,912$445,400$268 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55439 81%969$168,693$649,800$268 pricier homes ($100K more) · less walkable
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 81%661$134,724$599,900$331 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($50K more) · less walkable
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 81%662$118,716$566,300$332 lower income ($49K less)
Verona, NJ 07044 80%85$161,843$608,400$432 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Roseland, NJ 07068 80%82$164,458$665,700$419 pricier homes ($116K more) · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Park Ridge, NJ 07656 80%102$171,029$706,200$429 pricier homes ($156K more)
Pennington, NJ 08534 80%42$175,573$573,000$324 larger · less walkable
Evanston, IL 60203 80%652$170,224$468,400$305 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97221 80%2,391$145,671$821,400$342 pricier homes ($271K more) · larger
Bedford, MA 01730 79%276$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($348K more) · larger · more renters
Unionville, CT 06085 79%180$141,023$413,600$263 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · younger residents
New Providence, NJ 07974 79%73$172,894$758,400$549 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 79%142$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($130K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable

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.