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 19119

Philadelphia: median income $92,651, home value $371,300, $245/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 89%93$96,717$363,100$337 newer homes
Evanston, IL 60202 86%665$98,989$397,600$300 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21212 85%90$96,685$373,700$254 more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21224 82%90$89,017$295,200$207 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · younger residents
Oak Park, IL 60302 81%669$100,680$474,200$287 pricier homes ($103K more) · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 80%92$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · younger residents
Forest Park, IL 60130 79%670$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60645 78%665$76,045$328,200$224 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21230 77%94$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Salem, MA 01970 74%280$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60625 74%665$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Towson, MD 21286 73%86$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($59K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60630 73%668$98,860$384,500$282 larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60659 71%666$68,704$371,800$230 younger residents · more renters
Bronx, NY 10471 70%89$103,046$414,000$366 pricier homes ($43K more) · 11 min longer commute · newer homes
Washington, DC 20011 70%124$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($353K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60618 70%665$106,384$562,700$389 pricier homes ($191K more) · larger · younger residents
Winthrop, MA 02152 69%271$116,167$649,600$407 pricier homes ($278K more) · smaller
New Rochelle, NY 10805 69%94$102,109$368,100$284 more renters · newer homes
Kew Gardens, NY 11415 69%84$86,394$367,400$399 9 min longer commute · more renters
Washington, DC 20017 68%124$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($331K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60641 68%667$83,758$391,100$284 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Collingswood, NJ 08108 66%12$108,151$395,300$332 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Peekskill, NY 10566 66%108$85,954$395,600$330 more single-family homes · newer homes
Washington, DC 20018 66%123$90,639$697,000$315 pricier homes ($326K more) · 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.