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 Aurora, IL 60502

Aurora: median income $156,904, home value $412,300, $225/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mars, PA 16046 94%434$151,560$481,300$212 pricier homes ($69K more)
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 90%430$124,189$420,000$231 lower income ($33K less)
Wexford, PA 15090 89%434$160,576$476,400$243 pricier homes ($64K more)
Perry Hall, MD 21128 89%641$128,069$449,500$212 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Downingtown, PA 19335 87%666$143,249$494,100$234 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Gambrills, MD 21054 87%637$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($199K more)
Frederick, MD 21704 87%595$161,063$612,000$227 pricier homes ($200K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55129 87%318$143,795$534,900$199 pricier homes ($123K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Bel Air, MD 21015 86%645$137,281$443,400$211 pricier homes ($31K more)
Smyrna, GA 30082 86%584$120,372$438,700$200 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($26K more)
New Albany, OH 43054 86%308$148,100$510,600$234 pricier homes ($98K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Collegeville, PA 19426 85%677$151,748$498,700$250 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Glen Allen, VA 23059 85%633$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($181K more) · larger
Apex, NC 27502 85%657$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27614 85%655$128,834$577,400$231 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($165K more)
Fort Mill, SC 29708 85%609$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger
Laurel, MD 20723 84%627$138,113$525,400$255 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28270 84%612$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($177K more)
Tampa, FL 33626 84%1,001$127,118$577,100$289 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($165K more)
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 83%690$134,762$384,500$225 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chalfont, PA 18914 83%687$148,824$491,300$272 pricier homes ($79K more) · older homes
Blue Bell, PA 19422 83%686$158,288$611,900$274 pricier homes ($200K more) · older homes
Harleysville, PA 19438 83%679$138,134$480,300$246 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Schwenksville, PA 19473 83%675$138,819$476,300$248 pricier homes ($64K more) · more single-family homes
Gainesville, VA 20155 83%597$164,279$659,100$252 pricier homes ($247K more) · larger

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.