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 Winnetka, IL 60093

Winnetka: median income $250,000+*, home value $1,177,800, $482/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, MA 02420 95%844$245,031$1,200,300$550 Very close on everything we compare
Bethesda, MD 20816 94%599$232,656$1,217,200$495 pricier homes ($39K more)
Winchester, MA 01890 91%848$230,198$1,215,200$534 pricier homes ($37K more)
Needham, MA 02492 91%844$226,645$1,218,800$564 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
Bethesda, MD 20817 89%596$249,332$1,183,600$422 larger
Arlington, VA 22207 89%600$245,745$1,257,900$511 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Newton Center, MA 02459 88%847$227,594$1,450,900$586 pricier homes ($273K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22205 87%600$201,094$1,092,800$542 lower income ($49K less) · cheaper homes ($85K less) · more renters
Wellesley, MA 02482 86%841$226,250$1,352,500$680 pricier homes ($175K more) · smaller
Lexington, MA 02421 83%844$227,813$1,205,700$558 pricier homes ($28K more) · more renters
Westfield, NJ 07090 83%702$232,629$953,400$574 cheaper homes ($224K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Mc Lean, VA 22101 83%597$250,000+*$1,449,900$478 pricier homes ($272K more) · larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22308 83%608$212,545$914,400$420 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($263K less) · more single-family homes
Ho Ho Kus, NJ 07423 82%709$250,000+*$1,092,500$624 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 82%709$208,211$891,200$658 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($287K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wyckoff, NJ 07481 82%706$203,988$925,700$502 lower income ($46K less) · cheaper homes ($252K less)
Garden City, NY 11530 82%736$228,143$994,300$733 cheaper homes ($184K less) · 6 min longer commute
Livingston, NJ 07039 81%701$229,806$821,100$558 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Oradell, NJ 07649 81%713$221,322$737,800$500 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($440K less) · smaller
New Rochelle, NY 10804 81%726$250,000+*$927,000$524 cheaper homes ($251K less) · 10 min longer commute
Westwood, MA 02090 80%846$223,125$1,041,500$493 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($136K less) · less walkable
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 80%842$250,000+*$1,694,600$672 pricier homes ($517K more) · younger residents
Bernardsville, NJ 07924 80%689$236,042$785,100$472 cheaper homes ($393K less) · smaller · less walkable
Milton, MA 02186 79%853$188,033$933,200$547 lower income ($62K less) · cheaper homes ($245K less) · older homes
Southport, CT 06890 79%749$218,841$1,212,500$550 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller

* The Census Bureau doesn’t publish exact figures above $250,000 for household income, $2,000,000 for home values or $3,500 for monthly rent; it reports them as “or 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.