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 Philadelphia, PA 19102

Philadelphia: median income $102,093, home value $479,000, $322/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20024 76%123$107,411$526,700$367 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20036 75%123$99,832$449,300$541 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more homeowners
Washington, DC 20005 72%123$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20037 72%124$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($206K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60610 71%664$105,226$505,900$394 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 71%1,574$77,500$470,800$361 larger
Chicago, IL 60661 69%664$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22209 65%125$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($341K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60606 65%664$128,609$416,400$334 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Stamford, CT 06901 64%115$102,641$478,700$463 larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60601 63%663$121,458$526,200$494 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43212 62%417$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55401 62%983$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60642 62%665$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($41K more) · pricier homes ($115K more) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27605 61%344$71,096$540,000$389 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($61K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53202 61%692$71,034$340,800$278 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60611 61%663$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75206 61%1,294$91,023$615,400$363 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75202 60%1,298$133,155$359,500$250 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22202 59%126$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($420K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30346 59%655$95,000$595,900$323 pricier homes ($117K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Houston, TX 77030 59%1,344$77,336$631,400$317 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80218 59%1,574$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28204 57%450$92,054$585,200$326 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 57%664$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.