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 33325

Fort Lauderdale: median income $100,553, home value $455,000, $348/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Derry, NH 03038 90%1,266$108,322$430,500$315 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgewater, MA 02324 87%1,218$112,726$533,600$318 pricier homes ($79K more) · more single-family homes
Haverhill, MA 01835 86%1,263$113,578$468,800$311 smaller · older homes
Hackettstown, NJ 07840 86%1,066$105,866$396,100$302 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents
Coram, NY 11727 86%1,103$103,287$443,200$341 older residents
Royersford, PA 19468 86%1,012$108,534$402,800$246 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Frederick, MD 21702 86%939$106,983$426,300$223 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more renters
Freehold, NJ 07728 85%1,037$114,072$505,400$342 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Manassas, VA 20110 85%889$118,486$464,300$271 larger · more walkable
Glen Burnie, MD 21060 85%928$104,715$377,100$229 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Ayer, MA 01432 84%1,239$101,966$463,800$344 smaller · older homes
North Attleboro, MA 02760 84%1,209$112,027$478,700$330 older homes
Nashua, NH 03062 84%1,252$107,540$436,600$306 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 84%1,012$109,292$338,100$234 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Suffern, NY 10901 84%1,096$108,041$542,000$370 pricier homes ($87K more) · older homes
Manassas, VA 20111 84%891$113,879$476,000$258 5 min longer commute
Carol Stream, IL 60188 84%1,179$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Schaumburg, IL 60193 84%1,184$95,972$329,900$259 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older homes
Woodridge, IL 60517 84%1,167$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Lumberton, NJ 08048 83%1,009$113,440$432,100$232 smaller
Toms River, NJ 08755 83%1,022$87,575$389,600$271 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20879 83%921$112,104$468,100$255 more walkable
Woodbridge, VA 22192 83%886$127,177$486,400$257 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 83%1,180$103,392$382,000$232 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Mesa, AZ 85213 83%1,945$103,969$438,900$270 8 min shorter commute

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.