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 Lyons, IL 60534

Lyons: median income $70,890, home value $257,300, $224/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westville, NJ 08093 93%676$64,104$213,200$232 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 91%663$71,942$198,100$200 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Wilmington, DE 19804 90%654$79,701$264,100$219 larger
Dallas, TX 75223 90%792$73,318$265,100$271 Very close on everything we compare
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 89%678$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Croydon, PA 19021 89%684$70,199$293,400$264 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 89%76$73,427$235,700$216 larger
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 88%678$76,654$239,400$235 less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23509 88%705$72,816$258,000$211 Very close on everything we compare
Keansburg, NJ 07734 86%718$82,029$346,900$340 pricier homes ($90K more)
Cudahy, WI 53110 86%79$66,719$216,500$203 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Waterbury, CT 06708 85%761$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 85%672$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Trenton, NJ 08610 85%692$83,906$264,600$282 larger
Whitehall, PA 18052 85%645$75,665$262,900$201 larger
Marcus Hook, PA 19061 85%661$82,005$252,400$217 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Norfolk, VA 23513 85%705$68,380$234,000$200 larger · younger residents
Merchantville, NJ 08109 84%679$90,242$252,000$222 larger
Schenectady, NY 12304 84%713$69,235$179,200$226 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Portsmouth, VA 23701 84%702$62,349$235,200$203 larger · more single-family homes
New Bedford, MA 02745 83%869$74,034$368,600$316 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Pawtucket, RI 02861 83%846$83,411$315,400$252 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Meriden, CT 06451 83%774$71,255$239,800$217 larger · less walkable
Bristol, PA 19007 83%686$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Milwaukee, WI 53219 83%82$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute

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.