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 Arlington Heights, IL 60004

Arlington Heights: median income $128,979, home value $424,200, $280/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morrisville, PA 19067 97%696$133,630$507,900$287 pricier homes ($84K more)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 94%662$124,050$455,900$251 pricier homes ($32K more)
Media, PA 19063 93%672$127,368$548,900$303 pricier homes ($125K more)
Marlton, NJ 08053 92%698$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($27K less)
West Chester, PA 19382 92%662$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($144K more)
West Chester, PA 19380 91%661$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($140K more)
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 91%620$125,528$477,700$252 pricier homes ($54K more)
Reisterstown, MD 21136 91%612$118,500$422,100$206 smaller
Northville, MI 48167 91%231$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 90%697$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Ambler, PA 19002 90%677$143,600$602,100$292 pricier homes ($178K more) · smaller
Downingtown, PA 19335 90%654$143,249$494,100$234 pricier homes ($70K more)
Catonsville, MD 21228 90%620$112,656$404,700$239 Very close on everything we compare
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 89%831$139,302$592,300$353 pricier homes ($168K more)
Freehold, NJ 07728 89%723$114,072$505,400$342 pricier homes ($81K more)
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 89%700$125,514$428,000$294 smaller · more renters
Flemington, NJ 08822 89%690$137,788$536,900$310 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller · less walkable
North Wales, PA 19454 89%674$118,177$457,900$265 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 88%425$109,895$326,700$216 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Langhorne, PA 19047 88%692$109,530$467,000$285 pricier homes ($43K more)
Norristown, PA 19403 88%669$104,071$375,100$238 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Roswell, GA 30076 88%593$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($66K more)
Farmington, CT 06032 87%778$140,912$445,400$268 smaller
Rockaway, NJ 07866 87%701$131,403$457,400$329 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
East Brunswick, NJ 08816 87%714$143,586$522,700$357 pricier homes ($99K more) · 8 min longer 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.