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 Fox Lake, IL 60020

Fox Lake: median income $73,949, home value $226,200, $185/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Alfred, FL 33850 91%1,052$61,622$225,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Dade City, FL 33525 89%1,027$69,068$260,200$185 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Coplay, PA 18037 85%665$83,542$256,600$193 pricier homes ($30K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Randallstown, MD 21133 85%629$80,480$322,800$194 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Keystone Heights, FL 32656 85%935$74,213$231,200$190 less walkable
Mays Landing, NJ 08330 83%732$77,167$236,600$213 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Harrison Township, MI 48045 83%273$80,366$262,400$193 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Beverly, NJ 08010 82%707$88,037$260,000$201 pricier homes ($34K more) · older homes
Red Hill, PA 18076 82%671$79,615$253,200$199 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Ranson, WV 25438 82%579$81,875$254,400$181 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Thonotosassa, FL 33592 82%1,043$68,802$288,600$215 pricier homes ($62K more) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Brooksville, FL 34601 82%1,009$60,440$188,400$203 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
New Port Richey, FL 34654 82%1,022$73,947$307,200$182 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Edgewood, MD 21040 81%652$81,704$238,000$164 larger · younger residents
Granbury, TX 76048 81%866$70,346$246,000$177 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Springvale, ME 04083 80%880$72,207$272,000$246 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · older homes
Mount Pocono, PA 18344 80%666$83,707$250,000$155 smaller · more renters
Hamburg, PA 19526 80%643$69,483$221,000$168 8 min shorter commute
Bloomingdale, GA 31302 80%803$68,998$237,100$164 less walkable
Bushnell, FL 33513 80%1,007$67,597$218,200$231 less walkable
Merrillville, IN 46410 80%75$64,127$208,100$141 larger
Aberdeen, MD 21001 79%656$83,238$285,800$188 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Middle River, MD 21220 79%649$81,817$300,100$187 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · younger residents
Dover Plains, NY 12522 78%748$76,157$301,300$264 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Northampton, PA 18067 78%665$93,652$282,200$197 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · 8 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.