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 60656

Chicago: median income $95,766, home value $348,700, $275/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 92%684$100,951$331,200$254 Very close on everything we compare
North Providence, RI 02911 89%842$89,456$360,200$251 smaller
Souderton, PA 18964 89%662$96,143$356,100$253 smaller
Parlin, NJ 08859 88%712$99,882$445,800$372 pricier homes ($97K more)
Willow Grove, PA 19090 88%675$99,928$369,100$256 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01602 87%820$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($69K more) · older homes
Rahway, NJ 07065 87%711$91,461$386,400$395 pricier homes ($38K more) · more renters
Elmwood Park, NJ 07407 87%715$101,740$483,700$369 pricier homes ($135K more)
Trenton, NJ 08619 87%695$105,946$352,500$300 more single-family homes
Bensalem, PA 19020 87%685$83,223$362,800$256 larger
Pikesville, MD 21208 87%610$90,131$337,900$194 Very close on everything we compare
Worcester, MA 01606 86%822$92,105$370,800$317 5 min shorter commute
Warwick, RI 02886 86%844$92,047$366,400$285 8 min shorter commute
Carteret, NJ 07008 86%714$97,021$406,000$355 pricier homes ($57K more)
Woodbridge, NJ 07095 86%711$104,926$390,000$416 pricier homes ($41K more)
Little Falls, NJ 07424 86%710$105,050$487,600$384 pricier homes ($139K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Haledon, NJ 07508 86%711$95,806$473,700$344 pricier homes ($125K more)
Emmaus, PA 18049 86%649$93,694$315,700$208 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Leominster, MA 01453 85%824$84,296$381,300$280 pricier homes ($33K more) · less walkable
Attleboro, MA 02703 85%850$99,152$448,800$316 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · less walkable
Belleville, NJ 07109 85%714$90,438$420,800$372 pricier homes ($72K more) · older homes
Wharton, NJ 07885 85%691$100,716$380,900$333 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Riverside, NJ 08075 85%686$94,407$307,400$243 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
South Amboy, NJ 08879 85%713$92,786$389,800$360 pricier homes ($41K more)
Peekskill, NY 10566 85%721$85,954$395,600$330 pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min longer 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.