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 Nottingham, MD 21236

Nottingham: median income $95,149, home value $327,200, $208/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carol Stream, IL 60188 95%635$103,628$337,400$236 Very close on everything we compare
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 94%635$90,774$306,300$241 Very close on everything we compare
Woodridge, IL 60517 94%628$99,024$361,700$229 pricier homes ($35K more)
Palatine, IL 60074 93%632$84,089$315,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 92%632$103,392$382,000$232 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Schaumburg, IL 60193 92%634$95,972$329,900$259 Very close on everything we compare
Schaumburg, IL 60194 92%635$97,994$329,700$251 smaller
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 91%631$94,336$317,900$244 smaller
Burlington, NJ 08016 90%99$98,463$339,100$227 more single-family homes
Burnsville, MN 55337 90%935$84,110$349,100$180 6 min shorter commute
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 90%632$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Newark, DE 19702 89%45$92,446$346,100$209 newer homes
Burnsville, MN 55306 89%935$100,515$374,700$187 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 89%628$84,775$343,000$240 smaller
Wheeling, IL 60090 89%628$85,355$264,800$228 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Blackwood, NJ 08012 88%82$95,451$289,700$225 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more single-family homes
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 88%100$109,292$338,100$234 smaller · more single-family homes
Chesapeake, VA 23320 88%184$84,305$346,400$219 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55124 88%932$97,727$370,400$189 pricier homes ($43K more)
Des Plaines, IL 60016 88%624$86,571$320,400$241 larger · more walkable
Hanover Park, IL 60133 88%636$91,763$274,200$235 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Warrenville, IL 60555 88%636$101,859$287,600$238 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Bordentown, NJ 08505 87%108$112,845$362,500$263 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Hatfield, PA 19440 87%88$99,408$438,500$258 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33618 87%854$84,788$415,800$236 pricier homes ($89K 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.