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 Chicago, IL 60646

Chicago: median income $112,525, home value $503,900, $311/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenside, PA 19038 90%669$117,683$413,100$282 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Dumont, NJ 07628 88%716$126,071$497,400$420 smaller
Havertown, PA 19083 87%663$124,523$452,100$315 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Nutley, NJ 07110 86%709$119,646$517,500$421 Very close on everything we compare
Silver Spring, MD 20901 86%601$131,386$589,800$337 pricier homes ($86K more)
Jenkintown, PA 19046 85%671$109,818$470,800$243 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 84%709$144,574$564,700$462 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($61K more)
Teaneck, NJ 07666 84%715$144,075$546,100$431 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 83%681$114,012$372,200$275 cheaper homes ($132K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75218 83%799$107,366$521,000$329 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Braintree, MA 02184 82%858$122,214$656,800$428 pricier homes ($153K more)
Bergenfield, NJ 07621 82%716$130,045$491,500$484 Very close on everything we compare
Maywood, NJ 07607 81%713$117,912$533,500$420 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Abington, PA 19001 81%671$108,042$363,000$270 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller
Dedham, MA 02026 80%849$128,955$661,800$448 pricier homes ($158K more) · less walkable
Fairfield, CT 06825 80%751$135,504$630,600$395 pricier homes ($127K more) · less walkable
Iselin, NJ 08830 80%704$109,500$426,800$482 cheaper homes ($77K less) · younger residents · more renters
Metuchen, NJ 08840 80%703$146,635$560,100$466 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Broomall, PA 19008 80%661$119,698$500,300$274 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30317 80%600$107,955$541,100$351 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · younger residents
Swampscott, MA 01907 79%861$134,386$771,100$441 pricier homes ($267K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Union, NJ 07083 79%705$121,887$455,300$392 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 79%673$128,295$560,200$257 pricier homes ($56K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 78%705$151,625$633,900$422 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller
West Orange, NJ 07052 78%704$129,475$556,800$394 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.