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 19121

Philadelphia: median income $38,516, home value $266,700, $156/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60637 85%661$43,609$257,300$187 older homes
Newark, NJ 07108 76%72$36,200$399,400$192 pricier homes ($133K more) · older residents · more renters
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 76%58$41,126$207,400$211 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55404 76%981$41,940$291,600$223 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06604 75%133$50,026$267,100$210 older residents
Chicago, IL 60653 75%661$40,666$361,000$197 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents
Wilmington, DE 19801 74%26$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · older residents
Hartford, CT 06106 73%178$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20032 72%126$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($141K more) · older residents
Houston, TX 77036 72%1,351$45,716$235,300$128 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more renters
Houston, TX 77081 72%1,348$43,251$274,000$164 more renters · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06519 71%148$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Tampa, FL 33613 71%921$44,032$272,700$233 newer homes
Chicago, IL 60624 71%667$34,030$230,700$136 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · older homes
Houston, TX 77074 71%1,350$47,810$213,000$141 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06608 70%134$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Central Falls, RI 02863 69%237$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · older residents
Newark, NJ 07104 69%76$53,978$388,800$219 pricier homes ($122K more) · older residents
Hartford, CT 06105 68%179$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · older residents
Hartford, CT 06112 68%180$44,460$208,000$144 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01610 67%235$51,472$308,700$187 pricier homes ($42K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
New Britain, CT 06051 66%171$51,022$211,500$177 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 66%131$56,179$335,500$277 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · older residents
Newark, NJ 07107 66%75$51,242$379,500$262 pricier homes ($113K more) · older residents
Newark, NJ 07112 66%71$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($70K more) · older 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.