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 Westlake, OH 44145

Westlake: median income $112,200, home value $368,200, $207/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55126 95%617$108,217$384,900$217 Very close on everything we compare
Reisterstown, MD 21136 93%302$118,500$422,100$206 pricier homes ($54K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 92%116$109,895$326,700$216 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Norristown, PA 19403 92%354$104,071$375,100$238 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27615 92%423$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($111K more)
Louisville, KY 40223 91%293$96,607$362,500$179 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, MI 48170 91%102$114,278$417,600$228 pricier homes ($49K more)
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 91%106$113,865$389,400$169 less walkable
Fairport, NY 14450 90%256$109,466$308,200$221 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Hummelstown, PA 17036 90%284$115,533$349,700$176 younger residents
Cary, NC 27511 90%428$107,860$456,000$286 pricier homes ($88K more)
Northville, MI 48167 90%105$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($85K more)
Novi, MI 48375 90%105$112,545$376,900$204 younger residents
Brookfield, WI 53045 90%337$123,750$457,700$241 pricier homes ($90K more)
Chesterfield, MO 63017 90%495$127,095$466,100$200 pricier homes ($98K more)
Marlton, NJ 08053 89%383$118,670$397,600$259 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 89%382$118,802$357,200$249 Very close on everything we compare
Orchard Park, NY 14127 89%186$109,386$364,900$237 Very close on everything we compare
North Wales, PA 19454 89%359$118,177$457,900$265 pricier homes ($90K more)
Richmond, VA 23235 89%358$96,083$356,000$221 Very close on everything we compare
Stillwater, MN 55082 89%603$115,040$474,400$232 pricier homes ($106K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55437 89%621$95,718$381,700$202 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55442 89%629$123,859$460,100$190 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller
Gurnee, IL 60031 89%316$111,034$335,100$199 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Palatine, IL 60067 89%319$125,446$426,600$257 pricier homes ($58K 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.