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.

Reset

Towns most like Forest Park, IL 60130

Forest Park: median income $77,221, home value $304,700, $244/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 87%678$80,833$300,500$259 more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 86%340$76,406$292,200$225 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 84%422$72,920$317,600$235 larger
Philadelphia, PA 19129 84%671$80,606$323,600$274 more apartments and townhomes
Bethlehem, PA 18018 83%650$75,417$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 83%666$89,234$271,100$201 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40206 83%274$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Claymont, DE 19703 81%660$76,939$284,700$223 newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 80%462$69,629$294,700$200 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19128 80%668$93,173$353,500$256 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 80%612$82,828$284,500$219 more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63104 80%259$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 8 min shorter commute
New Haven, CT 06515 79%767$73,709$328,900$254 younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 79%420$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19119 79%670$92,651$371,300$245 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21212 79%612$96,685$373,700$254 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more homeowners
Towson, MD 21286 79%612$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01607 78%821$78,727$377,200$253 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · less walkable
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 78%727$96,717$363,100$337 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 78%423$63,086$321,100$226 younger residents · more single-family homes
Covington, KY 41011 78%260$69,970$304,200$204 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Oakmont, PA 15139 77%425$92,782$334,500$237 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 77%420$93,231$293,300$271 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 77%413$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Lakewood, OH 44107 77%311$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger

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.