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 Melrose Park, IL 60164

Melrose Park: median income $81,263, home value $258,300, $261/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilmington, DE 19804 92%659$79,701$264,100$219 Very close on everything we compare
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 90%682$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($50K less)
East Hartford, CT 06118 88%786$79,740$229,200$241 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Croydon, PA 19021 88%688$70,199$293,400$264 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Levittown, PA 19055 88%691$92,476$315,600$274 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Warwick, RI 02889 87%849$83,946$336,000$297 pricier homes ($78K more)
Pennsville, NJ 08070 86%666$75,697$214,700$200 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Levittown, PA 19057 86%689$93,738$328,000$263 pricier homes ($70K more)
Merchantville, NJ 08109 85%683$90,242$252,000$222 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, NJ 08610 85%696$83,906$264,600$282 larger
Bangor, PA 18013 85%663$78,847$259,600$195 less walkable
Runnemede, NJ 08078 84%684$86,741$250,800$235 smaller
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 84%666$79,949$267,200$241 larger
Deptford, NJ 08096 83%690$89,013$269,000$222 larger
Portsmouth, VA 23701 83%709$62,349$235,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98408 83%1,725$80,899$410,500$320 pricier homes ($152K more)
Athol, MA 01331 81%801$72,181$281,400$248 less walkable
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 81%783$81,205$258,800$226 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33168 81%1,191$65,777$383,000$376 pricier homes ($125K more)
Stockton, CA 95204 81%1,780$75,548$387,100$285 pricier homes ($129K more) · more renters
Uncasville, CT 06382 80%814$89,635$267,800$257 smaller · less walkable
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 80%683$76,654$239,400$235 smaller · more renters
Miami, FL 33167 80%1,191$62,846$381,100$335 pricier homes ($123K more) · more renters
Brockton, MA 02302 79%866$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($167K more) · larger
Willingboro, NJ 08046 79%690$98,178$269,900$209 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.