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 Forest, IL 60305

River Forest: median income $146,786, home value $687,300, $319/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Verona, NJ 07044 90%707$161,843$608,400$432 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Wynnewood, PA 19096 87%667$186,277$713,100$339 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($26K more)
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 85%707$151,625$633,900$422 cheaper homes ($53K less) · newer homes
Haddonfield, NJ 08033 85%681$151,181$635,300$384 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more renters
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 85%669$149,232$632,000$327 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more renters · newer homes
Swampscott, MA 01907 82%865$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($84K more)
Eastchester, NY 10709 82%728$170,417$847,900$497 pricier homes ($161K more)
Alexandria, VA 22307 82%605$141,667$778,900$425 pricier homes ($92K more) · more renters · newer homes
East Walpole, MA 02032 81%851$180,682$702,300$365 higher income ($34K more) · smaller · newer homes
Cranford, NJ 07016 80%706$155,972$660,100$469 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
River Edge, NJ 07661 80%716$159,028$660,300$499 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Narberth, PA 19072 80%667$172,550$819,700$372 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($132K more) · more renters
Kensington, MD 20895 80%598$173,625$781,500$396 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
West Roxbury, MA 02132 79%853$138,724$746,100$505 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more renters
Fairfield, CT 06825 78%754$135,504$630,600$395 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · less walkable
Metuchen, NJ 08840 78%705$146,635$560,100$466 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger · newer homes
Pleasantville, NY 10570 78%727$183,833$862,300$470 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($175K more) · newer homes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 77%712$144,574$564,700$462 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10605 77%730$148,982$787,500$459 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older residents
Leonia, NJ 07605 76%720$129,219$672,900$469 older residents · more renters
Midland Park, NJ 07432 75%710$146,841$607,200$441 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · more renters
Ramsey, NJ 07446 75%709$160,996$697,300$450 less walkable · newer homes
New Providence, NJ 07974 75%700$172,894$758,400$549 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents
Rockville Centre, NY 11570 75%740$157,163$809,200$536 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Wallingford, PA 19086 75%664$148,920$446,400$246 cheaper homes ($241K less) · less walkable · newer 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.