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 River Grove, IL 60171

River Grove: median income $69,858, home value $241,800, $243/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Trenton, NJ 08638 90%690$66,875$245,100$257 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Bristol, PA 19007 90%688$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Westville, NJ 08093 87%678$64,104$213,200$232 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Clifton Heights, PA 19018 86%669$73,522$225,100$202 larger
Waterbury, CT 06708 85%761$67,364$218,500$202 larger · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30354 85%601$63,189$273,700$199 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · less walkable
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 84%683$79,087$250,600$233 larger
Haverstraw, NY 10927 84%718$75,167$361,100$272 pricier homes ($119K more)
Claymont, DE 19703 84%662$76,939$284,700$223 pricier homes ($43K more)
Providence, RI 02904 83%842$67,003$339,900$249 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Bridgeport, CT 06606 83%757$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Whitehall, PA 18052 83%646$75,665$262,900$201 larger
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 82%663$82,005$252,400$217 larger · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Prospect Park, PA 19076 82%669$64,231$244,000$229 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · older homes
Woodlyn, PA 19094 82%667$64,150$242,700$220 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Norfolk, VA 23503 82%707$67,649$293,100$223 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · less walkable
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 81%674$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 81%665$71,942$198,100$200 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Sarasota, FL 34237 81%1,052$66,762$264,000$226 larger · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Cudahy, WI 53110 81%71$66,719$216,500$203 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53220 81%71$69,319$229,300$213 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53221 81%71$63,265$219,600$203 larger · 7 min shorter commute
New Bedford, MA 02745 80%869$74,034$368,600$316 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Allentown, PA 18109 80%649$58,031$198,800$195 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Norfolk, VA 23513 80%709$68,380$234,000$200 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family 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.