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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33322

Fort Lauderdale: median income $71,755, home value $296,700, $219/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randallstown, MD 21133 81%936$80,480$322,800$194 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · more renters
Mesa, AZ 85205 79%1,943$73,283$339,900$256 pricier homes ($43K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Crestwood, IL 60418 77%1,152$75,752$195,200$174 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Tinley Park, IL 60477 76%1,149$94,927$274,800$206 younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19115 74%1,009$70,054$345,000$250 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · more renters
Palos Hills, IL 60465 74%1,157$83,533$279,200$200 smaller · younger residents
Niles, IL 60714 74%1,178$75,800$358,900$284 pricier homes ($62K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Northampton, PA 18067 73%1,042$93,652$282,200$197 smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19116 73%1,011$67,535$346,600$249 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · more renters
Fox Lake, IL 60020 73%1,208$73,949$226,200$185 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · younger residents
Apache Junction, AZ 85119 73%1,931$71,585$265,000$272 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · less walkable
Millsboro, DE 19966 72%912$78,305$317,500$193 less walkable · newer homes
Pikesville, MD 21208 72%937$90,131$337,900$194 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents · more renters
Mesa, AZ 85208 72%1,939$69,390$286,200$251 younger residents · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Derby, CT 06418 69%1,126$78,542$258,500$231 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · younger residents
Willoughby, OH 44094 69%1,072$78,772$259,900$187 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Prospect Heights, IL 60070 69%1,185$84,775$343,000$240 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · younger residents
Schaumburg, IL 60193 69%1,183$95,972$329,900$259 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Orland Park, IL 60462 69%1,152$96,526$348,900$203 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Coplay, PA 18037 68%1,040$83,542$256,600$193 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Bensalem, PA 19020 68%1,012$83,223$362,800$256 pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19114 68%1,008$77,708$293,500$236 younger residents · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 68%523$71,447$305,700$235 smaller · 13 min shorter commute · less walkable
Schererville, IN 46375 68%1,136$93,160$315,400$171 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Harrison Township, MI 48045 68%1,145$80,366$262,400$193 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.