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.

Reset

Towns most like Essex, MD 21221

Essex: median income $67,340, home value $271,500, $187/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterbury, CT 06708 93%236$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Whitehall, PA 18052 91%106$75,665$262,900$201 Very close on everything we compare
Gardner, MA 01440 90%324$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older homes
Norwich, CT 06360 90%277$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Meriden, CT 06450 89%246$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06606 89%216$73,372$289,000$271 Very close on everything we compare
Pottstown, PA 19464 89%80$79,787$264,400$197 Very close on everything we compare
Pompano Beach, FL 33068 89%930$64,051$327,600$260 pricier homes ($56K more) · newer homes
Allentown, PA 18103 88%103$72,895$272,700$193 5 min shorter commute
Bristol, PA 19007 88%102$65,511$290,300$256 smaller
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33319 88%933$58,388$246,600$184 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53221 88%648$63,265$219,600$203 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Alsip, IL 60803 88%614$67,014$220,500$202 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Meriden, CT 06451 87%246$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Columbia, PA 17512 87%51$66,684$245,200$169 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 87%65$82,005$252,400$217 smaller
New Castle, DE 19720 87%47$75,403$265,000$203 more single-family homes
West Warwick, RI 02893 86%307$77,608$330,800$268 pricier homes ($59K more)
Torrington, CT 06790 85%246$70,912$215,600$191 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes
Pompano Beach, FL 33063 85%927$62,918$295,700$246 newer homes
Lake Worth, FL 33461 85%901$61,963$301,200$196 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Bensenville, IL 60106 85%629$79,456$282,200$198 smaller
Melrose Park, IL 60160 85%624$66,189$275,800$230 smaller · younger residents
Chicopee, MA 01020 84%284$66,009$280,900$244 8 min shorter commute
Decatur, GA 30032 84%579$62,765$273,600$185 more single-family homes

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.