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 North Wales, PA 19454

North Wales: median income $118,177, home value $457,900, $265/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Willowbrook, IL 60527 97%669$106,543$501,700$269 pricier homes ($44K more)
Palatine, IL 60067 95%677$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Marlton, NJ 08053 93%29$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 93%26$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Reisterstown, MD 21136 93%98$118,500$422,100$206 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Northville, MI 48167 93%453$124,630$452,800$232 Very close on everything we compare
Exeter, NH 03833 91%293$119,393$480,500$354 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 91%1,018$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($116K more) · younger residents
Darien, IL 60561 91%671$112,549$404,300$246 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Nashua, NH 03062 89%261$107,540$436,600$306 Very close on everything we compare
Bel Air, MD 21014 89%75$116,970$429,900$207 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Westlake, OH 44145 89%359$112,200$368,200$207 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 89%674$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · younger residents
Annapolis, MD 21403 88%109$123,329$582,500$366 pricier homes ($125K more)
Mahwah, NJ 07430 87%82$131,327$606,000$427 pricier homes ($148K more)
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 87%49$105,866$396,100$302 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Nanuet, NY 10954 87%89$116,332$533,000$383 pricier homes ($75K more)
Clifton Park, NY 12065 87%197$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · younger residents
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 87%92$125,528$477,700$252 Very close on everything we compare
Satellite Beach, FL 32937 87%886$101,184$465,600$298 Very close on everything we compare
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 87%451$113,865$389,400$169 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 87%675$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 87%674$129,401$412,200$245 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 87%678$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Downers Grove, IL 60516 87%673$115,480$441,100$261 more single-family homes

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.