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 19106

Philadelphia: median income $121,047, home value $517,900, $407/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arlington, VA 22206 81%129$140,877$586,000$431 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Washington, DC 20024 79%124$107,411$526,700$367 younger residents · more renters · less walkable
Washington, DC 20005 78%124$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($123K more) · younger residents · more renters
Chicago, IL 60611 75%664$125,675$650,800$394 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22302 72%129$123,539$631,100$441 pricier homes ($113K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60610 72%665$105,226$505,900$394 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60622 72%667$136,277$638,100$414 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20036 70%124$99,832$449,300$541 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · younger residents
Watertown, MA 02472 69%266$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($267K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80206 68%1,574$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($398K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60642 67%666$143,175$593,600$385 pricier homes ($76K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Reston, VA 20190 66%135$134,746$581,400$402 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · less walkable
Miami Beach, FL 33140 66%1,018$107,063$866,900$623 pricier homes ($349K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 65%88$107,396$448,000$448 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20037 65%125$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($167K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33129 65%1,023$113,367$736,300$632 pricier homes ($218K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60614 65%666$136,448$720,400$506 pricier homes ($203K more) · larger · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60657 65%666$110,939$537,800$428 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80218 65%1,575$81,706$676,700$398 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($159K more) · more renters
Portland, OR 97210 65%2,408$93,621$991,200$376 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($473K more) · more renters
Highland Park, NJ 08904 64%54$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20017 64%121$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($185K more) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60613 64%667$95,572$390,800$337 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Seattle, WA 98102 64%2,374$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($445K more) · larger · younger residents
Washington, DC 20002 63%122$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($309K more) · larger · younger residents

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.