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 Blue Bell, PA 19422

Blue Bell: median income $158,288, home value $611,900, $274/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Derwood, MD 20855 93%122$149,110$640,300$297 pricier homes ($28K more)
Alexandria, VA 22310 93%137$166,061$659,700$355 pricier homes ($48K more)
Naperville, IL 60540 93%680$157,102$550,600$292 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Olney, MD 20832 92%118$168,524$627,000$290 Very close on everything we compare
Morris Plains, NJ 07950 89%63$153,762$589,900$398 older homes
Chantilly, VA 20151 89%145$158,271$676,800$317 pricier homes ($65K more)
Springfield, VA 22153 89%143$174,228$693,600$344 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · more homeowners
Burke, VA 22015 88%143$172,563$696,500$346 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Springfield, VA 22152 88%141$165,906$648,200$327 pricier homes ($36K more)
Northbrook, IL 60062 87%667$143,323$632,500$312 larger · older residents
Wheaton, IL 60189 87%677$128,878$482,800$259 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Shrewsbury, MA 01545 86%236$139,302$592,300$353 larger
Canton, MA 02021 86%256$143,381$710,600$425 pricier homes ($99K more) · 5 min longer commute
Farmington, CT 06032 86%167$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($167K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Deerfield, IL 60015 85%668$183,125$606,000$302 more single-family homes
Libertyville, IL 60048 85%674$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Lincolnshire, IL 60069 85%672$162,826$611,900$276 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 84%224$139,217$613,500$342 Very close on everything we compare
Randolph, NJ 07869 84%60$169,497$665,700$351 pricier homes ($54K more) · more single-family homes
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 84%127$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 84%669$134,724$599,900$331 smaller
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 84%674$129,401$412,200$245 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($200K less) · larger
North Andover, MA 01845 83%278$140,670$732,900$367 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger
Franklin, MA 02038 83%242$145,773$611,700$343 larger · less walkable
Walpole, MA 02081 83%250$156,250$687,500$396 pricier homes ($76K more)

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.