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 Towson, MD 21286

Towson: median income $93,808, home value $430,100, $216/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wyncote, PA 19095 90%89$97,727$456,400$208 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 90%624$99,743$390,000$261 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Evanston, IL 60202 88%609$98,989$397,600$300 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19128 87%84$93,173$353,500$256 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Elkins Park, PA 19027 86%89$106,066$391,600$208 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Lisle, IL 60532 86%625$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Westmont, IL 60559 86%619$90,963$365,300$280 cheaper homes ($65K less) · newer homes
Skokie, IL 60077 84%612$78,523$355,900$277 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more walkable
Chicago, IL 60656 84%617$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Denver, CO 80224 84%1,503$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($174K more)
Edison, NJ 08837 83%141$102,605$437,900$389 Very close on everything we compare
Jenkintown, PA 19046 83%91$109,818$470,800$243 pricier homes ($41K more) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77096 83%1,265$82,852$432,600$214 larger · more renters
Falls Church, VA 22041 82%49$92,636$452,300$311 more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, VA 22312 82%51$109,272$604,200$325 pricier homes ($174K more)
Maitland, FL 32751 82%794$95,387$453,700$291 more single-family homes · newer homes
Voorhees, NJ 08043 81%91$105,473$429,700$242 more single-family homes · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08628 81%110$108,158$369,500$223 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30345 81%575$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($144K more) · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53226 81%646$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($95K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55426 81%939$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Oakmont, PA 15139 80%189$92,782$334,500$237 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Spring City, PA 19475 80%75$97,146$399,500$236 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55113 80%930$86,792$350,200$207 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Saint Paul, MN 55116 80%929$81,141$418,200$260 9 min shorter 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.