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 Highwood, IL 60040

Highwood: median income $107,875, home value $405,400, $332/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vauxhall, NJ 07088 90%707$93,240$346,000$295 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Garwood, NJ 07027 87%706$110,670$533,300$422 pricier homes ($128K more) · older homes
Woodbridge, NJ 07095 86%710$104,926$390,000$416 larger
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 83%700$104,663$428,600$403 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Roselle Park, NJ 07204 83%709$109,679$443,200$389 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 83%713$101,740$483,700$369 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Wharton, NJ 07885 83%689$100,716$380,900$333 larger · older residents · less walkable
Raritan, NJ 08869 83%692$107,672$456,900$350 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Highland Falls, NY 10928 83%715$102,347$329,200$294 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Hyattsville, MD 20781 82%613$86,018$465,100$308 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Ridgefield, NJ 07657 81%720$118,059$646,200$398 pricier homes ($241K more) · larger · older homes
Florence, NJ 08518 81%691$97,045$331,800$247 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners
Parlin, NJ 08859 81%710$99,882$445,800$372 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · less walkable
Carteret, NJ 07008 80%712$97,021$406,000$355 larger
Clifton, NJ 07012 80%712$101,737$483,800$498 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · older homes
Barrington, NJ 08007 80%684$99,565$264,200$264 cheaper homes ($141K less) · older residents
Bound Brook, NJ 08805 80%697$93,341$417,800$331 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 80%1,195$88,309$498,100$404 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 79%714$111,711$524,400$439 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · older homes
Carlstadt, NJ 07072 79%715$115,444$595,400$426 pricier homes ($190K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Little Ferry, NJ 07643 79%718$85,750$429,300$384 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Netcong, NJ 07857 79%683$85,898$346,100$354 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Weymouth, MA 02188 78%861$107,335$594,000$396 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger · less walkable
Stamford, CT 06907 78%741$106,379$590,000$421 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger
Rahway, NJ 07065 78%709$91,461$386,400$395 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.