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 West Chester, PA 19380

West Chester: median income $122,899, home value $564,400, $278/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 94%68$125,528$477,700$252 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Charlotte, NC 28226 94%443$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($53K more)
Raleigh, NC 27615 93%328$112,754$479,000$241 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Palatine, IL 60067 93%664$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Wheaton, IL 60189 93%664$128,878$482,800$259 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80228 93%1,561$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($77K more)
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 92%661$129,401$412,200$245 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Roswell, GA 30076 91%633$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 91%997$117,373$573,800$350 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 91%661$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Dublin, OH 43017 90%398$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Northville, MI 48167 90%443$124,630$452,800$232 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80123 90%1,559$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($56K more)
Farmington, CT 06032 89%188$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller
Annapolis, MD 21401 89%86$123,381$601,400$331 pricier homes ($37K more)
Willowbrook, IL 60527 89%655$106,543$501,700$269 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Austin, TX 78750 89%1,411$121,563$601,800$299 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Marlton, NJ 08053 88%37$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($167K less)
Annapolis, MD 21403 88%86$123,329$582,500$366 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Cary, NC 27511 88%339$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Cary, NC 27513 88%338$121,989$519,800$258 cheaper homes ($45K less) · newer homes
Raleigh, NC 27613 88%329$123,966$520,600$249 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Chesterfield, MO 63017 88%803$127,095$466,100$200 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Exeter, NH 03833 87%317$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 87%37$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($207K less)

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.