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 19809

Wilmington: median income $81,288, home value $314,900, $217/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Providence, RI 02911 94%256$89,456$360,200$251 pricier homes ($45K more)
Emmaus, PA 18049 94%53$93,694$315,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
West Hartford, CT 06110 91%199$87,539$285,200$291 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 91%245$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55420 91%971$82,170$328,400$207 larger
Villa Park, IL 60181 91%668$92,142$311,500$269 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 90%242$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Cleveland, OH 44126 90%352$79,269$239,000$200 cheaper homes ($76K less)
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 90%961$88,386$281,700$196 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55422 90%977$93,914$325,900$199 larger
Worcester, MA 01606 89%261$92,105$370,800$317 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55423 89%971$85,182$343,900$217 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more renters
Camp Hill, PA 17011 88%82$92,556$277,800$178 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Willow Grove, PA 19090 88%34$99,928$369,100$256 pricier homes ($54K more)
Greendale, WI 53129 88%683$95,012$311,800$231 Very close on everything we compare
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 88%676$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Rumford, RI 02916 87%260$95,263$404,100$273 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · older residents
Hamden, CT 06514 87%174$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · more renters
Merchantville, NJ 08109 87%28$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Hales Corners, WI 53130 87%686$87,008$308,000$243 smaller · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53222 87%687$76,980$216,600$201 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55427 87%979$92,821$360,200$193 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Shawnee, KS 66203 87%1,025$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($60K less) · newer homes
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 86%211$81,205$258,800$226 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Stratford, CT 06615 86%158$81,534$364,700$306 pricier homes ($50K more)

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.