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 Pikesville, MD 21208

Pikesville: median income $90,131, home value $337,900, $194/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norristown, PA 19403 91%89$104,071$375,100$238 pricier homes ($37K more)
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 91%617$99,743$390,000$261 pricier homes ($52K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55118 90%919$87,340$350,600$205 6 min shorter commute
Des Plaines, IL 60016 90%612$86,571$320,400$241 larger · younger residents
Westmont, IL 60559 90%613$90,963$365,300$280 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Bethlehem, PA 18017 88%114$91,173$336,100$207 more single-family homes
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 88%616$84,775$343,000$240 smaller
Palatine, IL 60074 88%621$84,089$315,500$233 younger residents
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 88%620$103,392$382,000$232 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Lansdale, PA 19446 87%97$106,310$441,100$257 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33618 87%847$84,788$415,800$236 pricier homes ($78K more) · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45255 87%408$92,035$303,800$188 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Schaumburg, IL 60193 87%622$95,972$329,900$259 Very close on everything we compare
Chicago, IL 60656 87%610$95,766$348,700$275 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeville, PA 15017 86%192$86,937$246,500$193 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55113 86%925$86,792$350,200$207 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55437 86%929$95,718$381,700$202 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 85%265$100,027$337,300$242 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Allentown, PA 18104 85%106$94,601$336,400$195 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 85%619$94,336$317,900$244 smaller · younger residents
Mount Prospect, IL 60056 85%615$101,922$397,200$272 pricier homes ($59K more)
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 85%623$90,774$306,300$241 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Schaumburg, IL 60194 85%623$97,994$329,700$251 smaller · younger residents
Emmaus, PA 18049 84%103$93,694$315,700$208 smaller
Souderton, PA 18964 84%97$96,143$356,100$253 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.