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 Crystal Lake, IL 60012

Crystal Lake: median income $159,375, home value $417,300, $198/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46278 93%197$158,648$408,900$154 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77059 93%953$161,944$416,700$162 larger
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 91%705$157,009$488,100$252 pricier homes ($71K more)
Clarence Center, NY 14032 91%495$168,711$502,100$261 pricier homes ($85K more)
Summerfield, NC 27358 91%614$138,717$444,400$205 pricier homes ($27K more)
Harrisburg, NC 28075 91%632$144,288$482,800$205 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · newer homes
Commerce Township, MI 48382 90%247$137,768$420,200$215 larger
Mickleton, NJ 08056 89%702$171,389$473,400$223 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Grover, MO 63040 89%283$133,220$426,600$188 lower income ($26K less)
Shawnee, KS 66218 89%402$168,878$436,600$207 newer homes
Venetia, PA 15367 88%450$135,542$544,100$216 pricier homes ($127K more)
Lincoln University, PA 19352 88%670$165,365$473,200$225 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 88%366$147,383$439,300$234 larger
Lake Orion, MI 48360 88%259$140,865$387,500$181 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Plano, TX 75094 88%783$171,476$539,200$193 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · newer homes
Brookline, NH 03033 87%848$171,046$544,400$245 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Garnet Valley, PA 19060 87%688$185,043$547,000$244 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($130K more) · older residents
Granville, OH 43023 87%337$142,852$473,100$220 pricier homes ($56K more)
Springboro, OH 45066 87%284$131,250$393,500$181 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Edmond, OK 73025 87%669$176,149$454,700$185 pricier homes ($37K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Lake View, NY 14085 86%479$129,563$292,900$213 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($124K less)
Glenmoore, PA 19343 86%669$160,256$567,700$267 pricier homes ($150K more)
Landenberg, PA 19350 86%675$144,375$533,000$212 pricier homes ($116K more) · less walkable
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 86%674$140,403$405,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 86%662$141,711$433,900$228 larger

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.