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 Wheeling, IL 60090

Wheeling: median income $85,355, home value $264,800, $228/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 90%1,189$85,000$379,700$262 pricier homes ($115K more)
Manchester, CT 06042 89%791$91,892$237,400$224 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Nottingham, MD 21236 89%628$95,149$327,200$208 pricier homes ($62K more)
Aurora, CO 80014 89%897$73,210$416,200$212 pricier homes ($151K more)
Windsor Mill, MD 21244 86%614$85,114$282,600$198 more renters
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 86%1,000$70,955$325,300$204 pricier homes ($61K more)
Burnsville, MN 55337 86%324$84,110$349,100$180 pricier homes ($84K more) · more single-family homes
Bensalem, PA 19020 85%690$83,223$362,800$256 pricier homes ($98K more)
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 84%794$85,356$275,500$226 more single-family homes · older homes
Harrisburg, PA 17110 84%588$80,699$222,900$144 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Newark, DE 19702 84%661$92,446$346,100$209 pricier homes ($81K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23462 84%726$69,040$286,500$213 larger
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33351 84%1,185$77,363$371,400$256 pricier homes ($107K more)
Anchorage, AK 99504 84%2,821$86,710$314,000$233 pricier homes ($49K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Horsham, PA 19044 83%678$88,173$402,400$297 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller
Chesapeake, VA 23320 83%726$84,305$346,400$219 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Boynton Beach, FL 33426 83%1,167$74,223$335,900$239 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Middletown, CT 06457 82%786$79,463$295,300$235 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 82%690$79,087$250,600$233 smaller · more renters · more single-family homes
Claymont, DE 19703 82%669$76,939$284,700$223 smaller · older homes
Montgomery Village, MD 20886 82%599$98,542$386,500$236 pricier homes ($122K more) · 8 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33179 82%1,201$65,211$286,200$215 8 min longer commute
Boynton Beach, FL 33435 82%1,167$67,979$356,200$308 pricier homes ($91K more)
Carrollton, TX 75006 82%800$84,815$328,500$202 pricier homes ($64K more) · more single-family homes
Derby, CT 06418 81%767$78,542$258,500$231 smaller · older residents · older 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.