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 Malvern, PA 19355

Malvern: median income $169,417, home value $692,300, $315/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Naperville, IL 60540 94%668$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30005 89%632$176,957$636,300$236 cheaper homes ($56K less) · newer homes
Andover, MA 01810 87%289$172,606$855,600$412 pricier homes ($163K more)
Randolph, NJ 07869 87%75$169,497$665,700$351 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min longer commute
Chantilly, VA 20151 87%130$158,271$676,800$317 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, VA 22310 87%122$166,061$659,700$355 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min longer commute
Libertyville, IL 60048 87%664$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more single-family homes
Princeton, NJ 08540 86%52$176,983$767,900$431 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Louisville, CO 80027 86%1,560$154,232$890,200$358 pricier homes ($198K more) · more walkable
Englewood, CO 80111 86%1,550$135,995$916,500$314 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($224K more)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 85%251$139,302$592,300$353 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bedford, MA 01730 85%278$172,400$898,500$496 pricier homes ($206K more) · smaller
Farmington, CT 06032 85%182$140,912$445,400$268 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 85%78$153,762$589,900$398 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Springfield, VA 22153 85%128$174,228$693,600$344 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Deerfield, IL 60015 85%658$183,125$606,000$302 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 85%659$134,724$599,900$331 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80129 85%1,558$141,667$663,800$266 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
East Greenwich, RI 02818 84%239$139,217$613,500$342 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Moorestown, NJ 08057 84%31$158,770$680,200$308 older homes
Sterling, VA 20165 84%121$183,076$704,800$295 Very close on everything we compare
Leesburg, VA 20175 84%131$174,854$780,600$285 pricier homes ($88K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Burke, VA 22015 84%128$172,563$696,500$346 larger · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28270 84%444$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($103K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30022 84%635$153,294$635,300$238 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger

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.