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 Lake Bluff, IL 60044

Lake Bluff: median income $134,724, home value $599,900, $331/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Greenwich, RI 02818 93%841$139,217$613,500$342 larger
Farmington, CT 06032 92%771$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger
East Lyme, CT 06333 91%806$129,083$439,000$273 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Newtown Square, PA 19073 91%666$134,839$610,300$279 larger
Port Jefferson, NY 11777 90%769$150,505$680,200$382 pricier homes ($80K more) · 5 min longer commute
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 90%672$147,418$537,400$279 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Austin, TX 78750 89%987$121,563$601,800$299 larger
Foxboro, MA 02035 88%849$115,833$606,300$366 larger
North Easton, MA 02356 88%856$127,224$650,300$348 pricier homes ($50K more)
Ambler, PA 19002 88%672$143,600$602,100$292 larger
Delafield, WI 53018 88%60$124,595$521,400$284 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 87%824$139,302$592,300$353 larger
Shelburne, VT 05482 87%749$115,963$588,100$310 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Pine Brook, NJ 07058 87%704$127,805$768,600$382 pricier homes ($169K more) · smaller · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15238 87%430$116,575$491,700$251 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Northborough, MA 01532 86%827$153,199$620,000$331 larger · more homeowners
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%698$153,762$589,900$398 larger
Fort Washington, PA 19034 86%674$165,354$627,500$292 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28270 86%624$131,667$589,500$271 larger
Portsmouth, RI 02871 85%853$116,831$597,000$392 larger
Yarmouth, ME 04096 85%897$110,216$639,700$434 pricier homes ($40K more)
Moorestown, NJ 08057 85%690$158,770$680,200$308 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · older homes
Dresher, PA 19025 85%675$188,490$635,700$302 higher income ($54K more) · pricier homes ($36K more)
Malvern, PA 19355 85%659$169,417$692,300$315 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28226 85%625$118,606$617,600$282 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.