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 Wheaton, IL 60187

Wheaton: median income $119,769, home value $433,700, $321/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43221 93%292$118,768$446,900$279 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30317 90%598$107,955$541,100$351 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77018 90%927$127,017$584,600$329 pricier homes ($151K more)
Atlanta, GA 30316 89%600$102,891$443,400$299 Very close on everything we compare
Somerville, NJ 08876 87%702$122,884$485,100$359 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32804 87%993$113,231$561,000$351 pricier homes ($127K more)
Columbus, OH 43085 87%293$112,517$407,100$227 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 86%705$125,514$428,000$294 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Phoenixville, PA 19460 86%667$124,050$455,900$251 larger · newer homes
Henrico, VA 23229 86%645$107,854$485,400$303 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents
Cary, NC 27511 86%655$107,860$456,000$286 older residents · newer homes
Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 85%680$137,535$471,000$264 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Decatur, GA 30033 85%595$111,616$455,300$265 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75218 85%781$107,366$521,000$329 pricier homes ($87K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75229 85%783$121,469$631,700$335 pricier homes ($198K more)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 85%1,231$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($134K more)
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 84%224$116,194$471,700$288 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55426 84%339$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Piscataway, NJ 08854 83%715$127,806$449,900$367 larger · less walkable
Catonsville, MD 21228 83%623$112,656$404,700$239 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Roswell, GA 30076 83%581$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30345 83%592$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($140K more) · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55447 83%346$133,555$471,000$229 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Bountiful, UT 84010 83%1,230$102,445$526,300$235 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 82%432$123,681$383,700$263 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents

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.