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 Pottstown, PA 19464

Pottstown: median income $79,787, home value $264,400, $197/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Halethorpe, MD 21227 95%92$85,986$289,400$209 pricier homes ($25K more)
Parkville, MD 21234 95%78$83,517$288,100$183 Very close on everything we compare
Bristol, CT 06010 94%171$79,314$277,900$229 Very close on everything we compare
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 94%88$67,060$260,300$187 Very close on everything we compare
Westfield, MA 01085 92%197$88,728$326,100$240 pricier homes ($62K more)
New Castle, DE 19720 92%46$75,403$265,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60435 92%659$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Meriden, CT 06450 91%171$71,250$242,600$211 6 min shorter commute
Torrington, CT 06790 91%169$70,912$215,600$191 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 91%39$79,949$267,200$241 smaller
Newark, DE 19713 91%41$76,493$292,600$215 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Newburgh, NY 12550 90%120$85,697$340,900$244 pricier homes ($77K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55119 90%940$81,865$277,500$184 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, IL 60120 90%668$82,449$242,300$205 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06708 89%160$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Essex, MD 21221 89%80$67,340$271,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 89%658$86,372$261,800$220 newer homes
Ansonia, CT 06401 88%152$86,178$285,800$236 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55432 88%953$79,520$301,800$187 pricier homes ($37K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Addison, IL 60101 88%655$90,800$338,800$233 pricier homes ($74K more)
Elgin, IL 60123 88%671$87,693$261,000$210 newer homes
Aurora, IL 60506 88%671$79,517$253,700$211 more single-family homes
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 87%197$85,356$275,500$226 smaller · more renters
Meriden, CT 06451 87%171$71,255$239,800$217 smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06606 87%142$73,372$289,000$271 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.