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 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326

Fort Lauderdale: median income $117,373, home value $573,800, $350/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80228 93%1,708$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($68K more)
Glen Mills, PA 19342 92%993$132,688$594,000$276 smaller
Littleton, CO 80123 92%1,702$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($46K more)
Exeter, NH 03833 91%1,281$119,393$480,500$354 cheaper homes ($93K less)
West Chester, PA 19380 91%997$122,899$564,400$278 Very close on everything we compare
North Wales, PA 19454 91%1,018$118,177$457,900$265 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older residents
Annapolis, MD 21403 91%915$123,329$582,500$366 Very close on everything we compare
Marlton, NJ 08053 90%1,002$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($176K less)
Somerset, NJ 08873 90%1,049$124,972$465,800$333 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
West Chester, PA 19382 90%994$132,091$568,500$282 larger
Phoenixville, PA 19460 90%1,007$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Laurel, MD 20723 90%921$138,113$525,400$255 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Nashua, NH 03062 89%1,252$107,540$436,600$306 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 89%1,230$101,901$457,600$362 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Charlotte, NC 28226 89%620$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($44K more)
Willowbrook, IL 60527 89%1,162$106,543$501,700$269 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents
Mansfield, MA 02048 88%1,216$125,273$603,500$353 pricier homes ($30K more)
Nanuet, NY 10954 88%1,097$116,332$533,000$383 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older homes
Ellicott City, MD 21043 88%931$148,125$620,900$272 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($47K more)
Annapolis, MD 21401 88%917$123,381$601,400$331 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · more walkable
Roswell, GA 30076 88%595$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Palatine, IL 60067 88%1,188$125,446$426,600$257 cheaper homes ($147K less) · older homes
Valencia, CA 91355 88%2,335$115,640$806,200$472 pricier homes ($232K more)
North Andover, MA 01845 87%1,259$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($159K more)
Foxboro, MA 02035 87%1,218$115,833$606,300$366 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older 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.