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 Downingtown, PA 19335

Downingtown: median income $143,249, home value $494,100, $234/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mason, OH 45040 93%459$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Charlotte, NC 28270 92%436$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller
Flemington, NJ 08822 91%58$137,788$536,900$310 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Maple Grove, MN 55311 91%966$153,568$487,300$192 Very close on everything we compare
South Windsor, CT 06074 90%207$144,961$375,100$256 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Roswell, GA 30075 90%631$157,335$611,500$244 pricier homes ($117K more)
Dublin, OH 43017 90%391$135,922$523,500$226 pricier homes ($29K more) · more renters
Northville, MI 48167 90%436$124,630$452,800$232 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Canton, MI 48188 90%432$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55123 90%946$139,215$461,200$197 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Chanhassen, MN 55317 90%966$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 90%654$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Wheaton, IL 60189 90%657$128,878$482,800$259 smaller
Batavia, IL 60510 90%669$121,622$392,200$237 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Glastonbury, CT 06033 89%202$149,962$427,000$273 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Arnold, MD 21012 89%79$139,432$563,800$270 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30022 89%626$153,294$635,300$238 pricier homes ($141K more)
Longwood, FL 32779 89%845$121,826$480,200$249 smaller
Palatine, IL 60067 89%658$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Naperville, IL 60540 89%659$157,102$550,600$292 pricier homes ($57K more)
Plano, TX 75025 89%1,257$143,260$486,100$206 more renters
Bel Air, MD 21015 88%46$137,281$443,400$211 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 88%64$125,528$477,700$252 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Allen, VA 23059 88%186$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($100K more) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27613 88%328$123,966$520,600$249 pricier homes ($27K more) · 5 min shorter commute

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.