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 Niles, IL 60714

Niles: median income $75,800, home value $358,900, $284/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Riverside, RI 02915 86%845$84,414$357,600$305 smaller
Hollywood, FL 33021 86%1,188$71,318$424,100$320 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702 86%1,023$67,463$341,700$274 younger residents
Seminole, FL 33772 86%1,020$73,586$366,900$298 less walkable
Largo, FL 33774 86%1,017$79,139$334,400$280 smaller · newer homes
Stratford, CT 06615 85%760$81,534$364,700$306 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Saint Petersburg, FL 33705 85%1,029$73,027$365,600$297 younger residents · more renters
Largo, FL 33773 84%1,018$76,867$319,400$307 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · newer homes
North Providence, RI 02911 83%838$89,456$360,200$251 smaller · younger residents
Miami, FL 33173 83%1,205$88,271$479,500$368 pricier homes ($121K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Cranston, RI 02920 82%839$80,717$370,000$280 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 82%1,026$74,707$323,000$342 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33711 81%1,028$66,540$283,800$270 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · younger residents
Clearwater, FL 33756 81%1,013$61,872$362,800$277 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Sarasota, FL 34232 81%1,060$80,795$359,900$250 less walkable · newer homes
Rumford, RI 02916 80%845$95,263$404,100$273 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
New Haven, CT 06512 80%769$96,146$289,100$286 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
Bethlehem, PA 18017 80%651$91,173$336,100$207 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Emmaus, PA 18049 80%647$93,694$315,700$208 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sarasota, FL 34231 80%1,063$69,925$386,900$270 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Dunedin, FL 34698 80%1,008$74,078$392,300$315 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · newer homes
Miami, FL 33183 79%1,204$70,218$395,800$296 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Miami, FL 33184 79%1,201$79,784$484,500$332 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · newer homes
Boynton Beach, FL 33435 79%1,158$67,979$356,200$308 younger residents · newer homes
Lake Worth, FL 33462 79%1,154$73,997$368,600$283 newer homes

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.