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 60074

Palatine: median income $84,089, home value $315,500, $233/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 93%798$85,356$275,500$226 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Nottingham, MD 21236 93%632$95,149$327,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, CT 06457 92%790$79,463$295,300$235 Very close on everything we compare
Burnsville, MN 55337 92%319$84,110$349,100$180 pricier homes ($34K more)
Manchester, CT 06042 91%795$91,892$237,400$224 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Horsham, PA 19044 91%683$88,173$402,400$297 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32812 90%1,015$73,149$375,200$235 pricier homes ($60K more)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 90%1,191$85,000$379,700$262 pricier homes ($64K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 89%729$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($103K more)
Leominster, MA 01453 88%830$84,296$381,300$280 pricier homes ($66K more)
Concord, NH 03301 88%840$86,840$371,300$268 pricier homes ($56K more) · older homes
Bensalem, PA 19020 88%695$83,223$362,800$256 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Newark, DE 19702 88%666$92,446$346,100$209 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Pikesville, MD 21208 88%621$90,131$337,900$194 older residents
Parkville, MD 21234 88%630$83,517$288,100$183 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older homes
Windsor Mill, MD 21244 88%619$85,114$282,600$198 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more renters
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 88%1,002$70,955$325,300$204 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46260 88%183$72,504$288,900$159 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55122 88%318$96,823$356,600$200 pricier homes ($41K more)
Aurora, CO 80014 88%893$73,210$416,200$212 pricier homes ($101K more)
Rensselaer, NY 12144 87%730$90,738$249,700$213 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14228 87%474$74,871$274,600$225 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Hatfield, PA 19440 87%673$99,408$438,500$258 pricier homes ($123K more) · smaller
Chesapeake, VA 23320 87%731$84,305$346,400$219 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55118 87%318$87,340$350,600$205 pricier homes ($35K more)

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.