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 Allentown, PA 18102

Allentown: median income $43,085, home value $163,400, $147/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartford, CT 06106 85%165$46,304$214,200$187 pricier homes ($51K more)
Trenton, NJ 08611 83%47$56,788$160,500$181 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53204 83%662$45,934$124,300$105 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06114 82%165$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Camden, NJ 08105 81%50$45,974$121,100$182 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · newer homes
Camden, NJ 08103 80%50$36,793$138,000$130 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
New Britain, CT 06051 79%159$51,022$211,500$177 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60624 79%642$34,030$230,700$136 pricier homes ($67K more) · 8 min longer commute
Hartford, CT 06112 78%166$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · less walkable
Camden, NJ 08104 77%51$38,170$93,100$158 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14207 77%239$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60623 77%641$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06608 76%127$45,754$235,800$175 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21205 75%107$43,176$96,100$131 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21216 73%110$42,031$147,800$112 smaller · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53215 73%662$54,289$156,800$150 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Central Falls, RI 02863 72%230$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 72%102$41,126$207,400$211 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents · newer homes
Albany, NY 12206 72%167$41,548$162,300$112 smaller
Baltimore, MD 21213 72%107$51,344$155,000$114 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21217 72%109$38,409$180,100$92 smaller · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44102 72%332$42,714$113,400$126 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60644 72%643$40,950$239,000$149 pricier homes ($76K more) · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Waterbury, CT 06710 71%143$37,191$228,300$154 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · older residents
Albany, NY 12202 71%166$52,868$166,000$118 smaller

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.