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 Phoenixville, PA 19460

Phoenixville: median income $124,050, home value $455,900, $251/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roswell, GA 30076 97%642$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($34K more)
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 95%42$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Marlton, NJ 08053 94%37$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Arlington Heights, IL 60004 94%662$128,979$424,200$280 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Palatine, IL 60067 94%665$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 93%662$129,401$412,200$245 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Wheaton, IL 60189 93%665$128,878$482,800$259 pricier homes ($27K more)
Laurel, MD 20723 92%99$138,113$525,400$255 pricier homes ($70K more)
Raleigh, NC 27615 92%338$112,754$479,000$241 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 91%35$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Columbia, MD 21045 91%94$118,563$453,700$255 more walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55125 91%944$119,260$416,100$192 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Denver, CO 80228 91%1,563$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($185K more)
Voorhees, NJ 08043 90%35$105,473$429,700$242 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Cary, NC 27511 90%350$107,860$456,000$286 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28226 90%453$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($162K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 90%1,007$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($118K more)
Littleton, CO 80123 90%1,561$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($164K more)
Bel Air, MD 21014 89%60$116,970$429,900$207 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Catonsville, MD 21228 89%87$112,656$404,700$239 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older homes
Dublin, OH 43017 89%401$135,922$523,500$226 pricier homes ($68K more)
Rochester, MI 48307 89%431$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Vernon Hills, IL 60061 89%663$124,468$416,700$241 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Clifton Park, NY 12065 88%209$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($76K less) · less walkable
Decatur, GA 30033 88%650$111,616$455,300$265 Very close on everything we compare

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.