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 Thornton, IL 60476

Thornton: median income $59,647, home value $155,100, $175/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Independence, MO 64054 86%398$59,719$117,600$140 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Conway, PA 15027 83%389$65,466$178,600$99 more renters
North Apollo, PA 15673 83%424$66,629$140,600$119 smaller
Fair Haven, VT 05743 81%742$68,409$196,100$165 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Springdale, PA 15144 81%414$67,520$156,100$134 larger · older residents
Shadyside, OH 43947 81%375$58,269$153,600$130 larger · less walkable
Fowler, IN 47944 81%67$55,242$131,400$120 larger · less walkable
Bellwood, PA 16617 80%487$52,609$145,500$121 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13211 79%596$66,724$121,600$169 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · younger residents
West Newton, PA 15089 79%421$60,533$164,500$159 larger · older residents · less walkable
Norco, LA 70079 79%814$71,433$238,900$158 pricier homes ($84K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Greybull, WY 82426 79%1,050$67,083$209,000$210 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · younger residents
Riddle, OR 97469 79%1,817$57,444$248,500$184 pricier homes ($93K more) · less walkable
Masontown, PA 15461 78%421$57,596$124,900$112 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · less walkable
Knox, PA 16232 78%420$65,525$142,800$172 larger · less walkable
Roaring Spring, PA 16673 78%488$70,464$159,500$128 larger · less walkable
Elizabethville, PA 17023 78%565$79,435$210,500$137 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · newer homes
Natrona Heights, PA 15065 77%415$67,803$159,400$152 larger · older residents
Jessup, PA 18434 77%622$62,922$164,000$158 larger · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Chester, WV 26034 77%373$56,556$138,400$109 larger · less walkable
Webster, SD 57274 77%560$68,083$173,200$139 less walkable
Lawnside, NJ 08045 76%668$71,607$240,700$222 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · more renters
Tarentum, PA 15084 76%412$63,090$115,800$119 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Derry, PA 15627 76%440$59,398$157,000$164 larger · less walkable
Lonaconing, MD 21539 76%473$57,708$130,200$214 more renters · less walkable

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.