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 Palatine, IL 60067

Palatine: median income $125,446, home value $426,600, $257/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Northville, MI 48167 96%234$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Marlton, NJ 08053 95%701$118,670$397,600$259 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 95%700$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Morrisville, PA 19067 95%699$133,630$507,900$287 pricier homes ($81K more)
North Wales, PA 19454 95%677$118,177$457,900$265 pricier homes ($31K more)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 94%665$124,050$455,900$251 pricier homes ($29K more)
Reisterstown, MD 21136 94%615$118,500$422,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Media, PA 19063 93%676$127,368$548,900$303 pricier homes ($122K more)
West Chester, PA 19380 93%664$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($138K more)
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 93%623$125,528$477,700$252 pricier homes ($51K more)
West Chester, PA 19382 92%666$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($142K more)
Clifton Park, NY 12065 91%727$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Norristown, PA 19403 91%672$104,071$375,100$238 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 90%703$125,514$428,000$294 Very close on everything we compare
Bel Air, MD 21014 90%636$116,970$429,900$207 Very close on everything we compare
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 90%240$113,865$389,400$169 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Nashua, NH 03062 89%844$107,540$436,600$306 Very close on everything we compare
Exeter, NH 03833 89%871$119,393$480,500$354 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Farmington, CT 06032 89%781$140,912$445,400$268 smaller
Flemington, NJ 08822 89%693$137,788$536,900$310 pricier homes ($110K more)
Langhorne, PA 19047 89%695$109,530$467,000$285 pricier homes ($40K more)
Downingtown, PA 19335 89%658$143,249$494,100$234 pricier homes ($68K more)
Harleysville, PA 19438 89%670$138,134$480,300$246 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Catonsville, MD 21228 89%623$112,656$404,700$239 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, GA 30076 89%595$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($63K more) · younger residents

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.