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 60005

Arlington Heights: median income $99,743, home value $390,000, $261/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maitland, FL 32751 95%1,000$95,387$453,700$291 pricier homes ($64K more)
Lansdale, PA 19446 94%672$106,310$441,100$257 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Voorhees, NJ 08043 93%696$105,473$429,700$242 pricier homes ($40K more)
Norristown, PA 19403 92%669$104,071$375,100$238 larger
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 91%727$101,901$457,600$362 pricier homes ($68K more)
Hatfield, PA 19440 91%671$99,408$438,500$258 pricier homes ($49K more)
Pikesville, MD 21208 91%617$90,131$337,900$194 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Catonsville, MD 21228 91%619$112,656$404,700$239 larger
Trenton, NJ 08628 90%695$108,158$369,500$223 smaller
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 90%700$125,514$428,000$294 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($38K more)
Spring City, PA 19475 90%659$97,146$399,500$236 smaller
Towson, MD 21286 90%624$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($40K more)
Henrico, VA 23238 89%641$101,523$420,500$241 pricier homes ($31K more) · less walkable
Essex Junction, VT 05452 88%767$101,349$432,400$265 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 88%788$100,027$337,300$242 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Somerville, NJ 08876 88%697$122,884$485,100$359 pricier homes ($95K more)
Columbia, MD 21045 88%617$118,563$453,700$255 pricier homes ($64K more) · more walkable
Frederick, MD 21701 88%586$106,577$435,000$230 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
Cary, NC 27511 88%658$107,860$456,000$286 pricier homes ($66K more) · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30316 88%610$102,891$443,400$299 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30345 88%602$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($184K more)
Tampa, FL 33618 88%1,015$84,788$415,800$236 pricier homes ($26K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55113 88%329$86,792$350,200$207 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55437 88%330$95,718$381,700$202 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55441 88%340$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · 6 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.