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 Naperville, IL 60540

Naperville: median income $157,102, home value $550,600, $292/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Malvern, PA 19355 94%668$169,417$692,300$315 pricier homes ($142K more)
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 93%842$139,302$592,300$353 pricier homes ($42K more)
Ambler, PA 19002 93%682$143,600$602,100$292 pricier homes ($52K more)
Blue Bell, PA 19422 93%680$158,288$611,900$274 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28270 92%607$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($39K more)
Roswell, GA 30075 92%572$157,335$611,500$244 pricier homes ($61K more)
Randolph, NJ 07869 91%706$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Wexford, PA 15090 91%427$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30022 91%575$153,294$635,300$238 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Farmington, CT 06032 89%788$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 89%700$155,059$443,400$252 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Downingtown, PA 19335 89%659$143,249$494,100$234 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bridgewater, NJ 08807 88%707$168,696$591,200$369 pricier homes ($41K more)
Chantilly, VA 20151 88%597$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Derwood, MD 20855 88%605$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Alpharetta, GA 30005 88%572$176,957$636,300$236 pricier homes ($86K more) · newer homes
Franklin, MA 02038 87%859$145,773$611,700$343 pricier homes ($61K more)
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%858$139,217$613,500$342 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Alexandria, VA 22310 87%616$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Alpharetta, GA 30004 87%569$156,100$657,700$249 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · newer homes
Glastonbury, CT 06033 86%802$149,962$427,000$273 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 86%711$153,762$589,900$398 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older homes
Flemington, NJ 08822 86%696$137,788$536,900$310 less walkable
Newtown, PA 18940 86%695$157,414$655,000$316 pricier homes ($104K more)
Newtown Square, PA 19073 86%676$134,839$610,300$279 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller

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.