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 19107

Philadelphia: median income $69,105, home value $458,600, $357/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Providence, RI 02903 79%234$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($50K less) · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45202 78%501$95,633$443,600$278 higher income ($27K more)
Denver, CO 80203 78%1,575$77,500$470,800$361 larger · newer homes
Portland, ME 04101 77%360$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($159K more)
Richmond, VA 23219 77%206$57,507$380,700$361 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21231 76%89$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53202 75%692$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 74%1,035$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68102 74%1,091$64,111$389,400$329 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · newer homes
Allston, MA 02134 72%267$78,679$657,300$616 pricier homes ($199K more) · 10 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63108 71%811$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Cleveland, OH 44113 70%359$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($159K less) · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 70%1,089$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($104K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55408 68%984$70,326$396,100$214 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · newer homes
Burlington, VT 05401 67%329$65,657$492,100$360 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14607 67%254$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80218 67%1,574$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($218K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 66%207$61,381$473,100$318 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55405 65%985$73,053$467,700$244 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97205 64%2,407$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller · older residents
New Haven, CT 06511 62%150$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43212 62%417$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48226 62%442$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 62%1,919$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($90K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60615 61%662$63,876$347,800$200 cheaper homes ($111K 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.