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 New Castle, DE 19720

New Castle: median income $75,403, home value $265,000, $203/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bristol, CT 06010 95%203$79,314$277,900$229 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, IL 60123 95%683$87,693$261,000$210 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60435 95%668$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Elgin, IL 60120 94%680$82,449$242,300$205 younger residents
Aurora, IL 60506 94%681$79,517$253,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Hanover, PA 17331 93%72$79,488$240,800$177 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55433 93%978$78,054$296,900$191 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Irving, TX 75060 93%1,273$71,575$249,800$198 Very close on everything we compare
Whitehall, PA 18052 92%74$75,665$262,900$201 smaller
Allentown, PA 18103 92%70$72,895$272,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Pottstown, PA 19464 92%46$79,787$264,400$197 Very close on everything we compare
Addison, IL 60101 92%666$90,800$338,800$233 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller
Tucson, AZ 85730 92%2,020$62,090$246,100$203 smaller
Millville, NJ 08332 91%37$67,496$214,200$192 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Vineland, NJ 08360 91%35$65,359$221,900$198 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55119 91%959$81,865$277,500$184 younger residents
Waukegan, IL 60087 91%665$76,738$206,600$204 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64118 91%1,009$74,740$225,300$177 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Meriden, CT 06450 90%201$71,250$242,600$211 smaller
Orange Park, FL 32073 90%737$76,455$287,600$181 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44130 90%346$69,655$195,500$188 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Middletown, OH 45044 90%466$73,732$241,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55432 90%973$79,520$301,800$187 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Deptford, NJ 08096 89%37$89,013$269,000$222 smaller
York, PA 17402 89%59$81,166$250,400$166 smaller

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.