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 Thorndale, PA 19372

Thorndale: median income $115,438, home value $337,000, $248/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Three Bridges, NJ 08887 79%62$109,333$283,400$170 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Helmetta, NJ 08828 78%75$98,952$355,000$311 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Douglas, AK 99824 78%2,823$92,188$406,500$343 pricier homes ($70K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Newport News, VA 23603 77%198$88,246$293,300$189 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Manville, RI 02838 76%262$97,273$372,300$219 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more homeowners
Newmarket, NH 03857 75%327$100,845$455,000$322 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger
Port Royal, SC 29935 69%593$76,544$263,700$351 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55120 69%946$116,346$515,600$249 pricier homes ($179K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tangent, OR 97389 69%2,407$94,909$433,000$295 pricier homes ($96K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Rochester, NH 03839 68%334$88,346$335,600$288 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55121 68%946$87,152$301,400$195 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64158 68%996$105,043$371,800$182 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kemah, TX 77565 68%1,307$95,268$419,000$181 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · older residents
South Grafton, MA 01560 67%260$107,031$484,800$284 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Nashua, NH 03063 67%292$107,630$391,400$291 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more homeowners
West Lebanon, NH 03784 67%308$91,000$371,500$284 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Cliffwood, NJ 07721 67%86$123,060$424,700$348 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · younger residents
North Chili, NY 14514 66%240$86,493$242,500$218 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Des Moines, IA 50321 66%941$80,351$320,500$212 lower income ($35K less) · larger · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64153 66%1,007$82,964$353,200$186 lower income ($32K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Middletown, NY 10941 65%127$99,238$348,200$255 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Jessup, MD 20794 65%80$116,406$426,100$248 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · more homeowners
Altoona, WI 54720 65%864$85,977$236,700$177 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Trenton, NJ 08628 64%53$108,158$369,500$223 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more homeowners
Harriman, NY 10926 64%124$94,279$336,600$275 larger · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.