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 19807

Wilmington: median income $153,341, home value $936,900, $299/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nashville, TN 37205 84%663$139,152$953,300$403 larger · younger residents
Essex, MA 01929 80%318$156,442$902,000$416 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wayzata, MN 55391 80%980$174,301$923,400$340 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Lake Oswego, OR 97034 80%2,390$149,236$1,047,500$444 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · younger residents
Haverford, PA 19041 78%22$151,989$954,000$356 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63124 77%793$193,942$988,600$376 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($52K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55436 76%971$144,129$643,400$292 cheaper homes ($294K less) · larger · younger residents
Moorestown, NJ 08057 75%37$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($257K less) · larger · younger residents
Bedford, MA 01730 74%292$172,400$898,500$496 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97221 74%2,391$145,671$821,400$342 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · younger residents
Shelburne, VT 05482 72%340$115,963$588,100$310 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($349K less) · newer homes
Paoli, PA 19301 72%19$167,348$550,100$344 cheaper homes ($387K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Devon, PA 19333 72%20$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($176K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Nashville, TN 37215 72%661$155,863$1,046,500$413 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85718 72%2,024$114,892$712,400$308 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($225K less) · larger
East Greenwich, RI 02818 71%252$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($323K less) · larger · younger residents
Stonington, CT 06378 71%222$135,714$593,400$407 cheaper homes ($344K less)
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 71%660$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($337K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 70%156$150,505$680,200$382 cheaper homes ($257K less) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15238 70%231$116,575$491,700$251 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($445K less) · larger
Berwyn, PA 19312 70%19$204,384$855,000$376 higher income ($51K more) · cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Birmingham, MI 48009 70%438$153,401$697,900$377 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · younger residents
Excelsior, MN 55331 70%980$159,450$737,000$273 cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger · younger residents
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 70%662$162,826$611,900$276 cheaper homes ($325K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Oak Brook, IL 60523 70%660$118,194$782,100$282 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($155K less) · 7 min longer commute

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.