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 60189

Wheaton: median income $128,878, home value $482,800, $259/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ambler, PA 19002 94%680$143,600$602,100$292 pricier homes ($119K more)
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 94%622$125,528$477,700$252 Very close on everything we compare
Farmington, CT 06032 93%785$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Newtown Square, PA 19073 93%674$134,839$610,300$279 pricier homes ($128K more) · older residents
West Chester, PA 19380 93%664$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
West Chester, PA 19382 93%665$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Phoenixville, PA 19460 93%665$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55447 93%348$133,555$471,000$229 6 min shorter commute
Morrisville, PA 19067 92%700$133,630$507,900$287 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Littleton, CO 80122 92%896$128,691$634,400$256 pricier homes ($152K more)
Raleigh, NC 27615 91%653$112,754$479,000$241 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28226 91%610$118,606$617,600$282 pricier homes ($135K more)
Northville, MI 48167 91%240$124,630$452,800$232 cheaper homes ($30K less) · less walkable
Media, PA 19063 90%675$127,368$548,900$303 pricier homes ($66K more)
Downingtown, PA 19335 90%657$143,249$494,100$234 larger
Charlotte, NC 28270 90%609$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($107K more) · newer homes
Roswell, GA 30076 90%578$118,170$489,700$231 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55123 90%326$139,215$461,200$197 Very close on everything we compare
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 89%839$139,302$592,300$353 pricier homes ($110K more)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 89%855$139,217$613,500$342 pricier homes ($131K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55126 89%338$108,217$384,900$217 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 88%698$155,059$443,400$252 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($39K less)
Sewickley, PA 15143 88%422$132,674$454,900$257 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 88%679$147,418$537,400$279 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Cary, NC 27511 88%653$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($27K less)

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.