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 Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Vernon Hills: median income $124,468, home value $416,700, $241/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 90%698$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Laurel, MD 20723 90%621$138,113$525,400$255 pricier homes ($109K more)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 89%663$124,050$455,900$251 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Novi, MI 48375 89%231$112,545$376,900$204 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Ellicott City, MD 21043 88%619$148,125$620,900$272 pricier homes ($204K more) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22911 88%579$128,235$454,100$230 pricier homes ($37K more) · more single-family homes
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 87%421$124,189$420,000$231 more single-family homes
West Chester, PA 19380 87%662$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger
North Wales, PA 19454 87%675$118,177$457,900$265 pricier homes ($41K more)
Henrico, VA 23233 87%650$125,665$479,000$248 pricier homes ($62K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Roswell, GA 30076 87%601$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37221 87%429$97,751$463,900$247 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($47K more)
Marlton, NJ 08053 86%699$118,670$397,600$259 larger
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 86%701$125,514$428,000$294 more walkable · older homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 86%668$132,688$594,000$276 pricier homes ($177K more)
West Chester, PA 19382 86%663$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · older homes
Elkridge, MD 21075 86%623$135,303$455,300$246 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents
Alpharetta, GA 30009 86%597$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($224K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33326 86%1,194$117,373$573,800$350 pricier homes ($157K more)
Dublin, OH 43017 86%292$135,922$523,500$226 pricier homes ($107K more) · more single-family homes
Northville, MI 48167 86%230$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($36K more) · more single-family homes
Rochester, MI 48307 86%249$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Voorhees, NJ 08043 85%697$105,473$429,700$242 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, MD 21044 85%617$135,057$566,500$250 pricier homes ($150K more) · larger · more walkable
Raleigh, NC 27615 85%665$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more single-family homes

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.