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 Bensenville, IL 60106

Bensenville: median income $79,456, home value $282,200, $198/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bedford, TX 76022 93%807$72,560$277,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Meriden, CT 06451 91%779$71,255$239,800$217 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 91%669$82,005$252,400$217 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Ansonia, CT 06401 90%768$86,178$285,800$236 older homes
Newark, DE 19713 90%658$76,493$292,600$215 larger
Meriden, CT 06450 89%780$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Whitehall, PA 18052 89%651$75,665$262,900$201 more walkable
Rochester, NH 03867 88%866$78,674$273,900$279 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06708 88%767$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 88%686$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Aberdeen, MD 21001 88%638$83,238$285,800$188 newer homes
West Warwick, RI 02893 87%845$77,608$330,800$268 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more walkable
Somersworth, NH 03878 87%871$75,136$317,900$256 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Putnam, CT 06260 87%824$70,502$269,500$221 smaller
Norwich, CT 06360 87%817$65,539$245,700$203 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older homes
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 87%733$82,057$231,300$229 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Dallastown, PA 17313 87%606$70,176$237,900$163 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Ephrata, PA 17522 87%624$74,828$285,200$189 larger · newer homes
Rosedale, MD 21237 87%626$91,693$295,600$188 larger
Henrico, VA 23228 87%640$70,260$283,500$235 larger
Groveport, OH 43125 87%301$84,043$246,500$187 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43231 87%291$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($45K less) · younger residents
Utica, MI 48317 87%255$72,917$265,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, TX 76015 87%814$73,709$256,900$193 cheaper homes ($25K less) · younger residents
Webster, MA 01570 86%825$72,895$361,500$279 pricier homes ($79K more) · 5 min longer commute

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.