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 Wilmington, DE 19804

Wilmington: median income $79,701, home value $264,100, $219/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merchantville, NJ 08109 95%34$90,242$252,000$222 Very close on everything we compare
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 94%218$81,205$258,800$226 Very close on everything we compare
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 94%672$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Deptford, NJ 08096 93%33$89,013$269,000$222 larger
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 93%34$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Schenectady, NY 12306 93%229$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Bellwood, IL 60104 93%658$79,513$230,000$219 cheaper homes ($34K less)
East Hartford, CT 06118 92%211$79,740$229,200$241 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Trenton, NJ 08610 92%59$83,906$264,600$282 larger
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 92%957$88,386$281,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Melrose Park, IL 60164 92%659$81,263$258,300$261 Very close on everything we compare
Pennsville, NJ 08070 91%7$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23509 91%199$72,816$258,000$211 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55420 91%967$82,170$328,400$207 pricier homes ($64K more)
Franklin Park, IL 60131 91%658$76,658$287,000$278 Very close on everything we compare
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 90%30$76,654$239,400$235 smaller
Runnemede, NJ 08078 90%30$86,741$250,800$235 smaller · younger residents
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 90%73$79,949$267,200$241 larger · 5 min longer commute
Levittown, PA 19057 90%50$93,738$328,000$263 pricier homes ($64K more)
Racine, WI 53402 90%666$75,751$230,800$190 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Janesville, WI 53545 90%727$73,889$220,700$168 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55430 90%973$75,716$256,800$179 younger residents
Lyons, IL 60534 90%654$70,890$257,300$224 smaller
Janesville, WI 53548 89%731$76,869$234,900$164 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Joliet, IL 60435 89%667$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger

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.