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 19103

Philadelphia: median income $99,644, home value $582,500, $477/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20005 86%123$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 83%1,573$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($94K more)
Washington, DC 20024 82%123$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60610 82%664$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 79%124$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · newer homes
Denver, CO 80203 79%1,574$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Seattle, WA 98102 79%2,372$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($381K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60657 78%665$110,939$537,800$428 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Brighton, MA 02135 76%267$90,829$681,200$631 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20002 76%121$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($244K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97210 76%2,407$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($409K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20036 75%123$99,832$449,300$541 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60622 75%666$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20008 74%123$125,212$965,100$596 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($383K more)
Arlington, VA 22206 73%128$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($41K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43212 72%417$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60613 72%665$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($192K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80206 72%1,572$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($333K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60611 70%663$125,675$650,800$394 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($68K more) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20009 69%122$146,664$722,500$636 higher income ($47K more) · pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 69%122$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($304K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22209 69%125$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($238K more) · smaller · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90025 69%2,399$103,894$1,079,700$699 pricier homes ($497K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60614 68%665$136,448$720,400$506 higher income ($37K more) · pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Emeryville, CA 94608 68%2,508$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($267K more) · more single-family homes · 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.