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 19125

Philadelphia: median income $109,554, home value $392,400, $287/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21230 86%94$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Baltimore, MD 21211 80%92$82,828$284,500$219 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21224 77%90$89,017$295,200$207 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Evanston, IL 60202 77%669$98,989$397,600$300 older residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60618 75%670$106,384$562,700$389 pricier homes ($170K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20017 74%123$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($310K more) · newer homes
Oak Park, IL 60302 74%673$100,680$474,200$287 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20011 73%123$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($332K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60613 72%667$95,572$390,800$337 larger · more renters · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60625 72%670$85,703$401,900$333 larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60647 72%669$107,060$586,200$403 pricier homes ($194K more) · larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21231 69%91$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21212 68%90$96,685$373,700$254 more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60622 68%668$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($246K more) · larger
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 67%94$96,717$363,100$337 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 66%176$99,688$378,400$281 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Kew Gardens, NY 11415 65%85$86,394$367,400$399 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 10 min longer commute · more renters
Watertown, MA 02472 64%264$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($392K more)
Salem, MA 01970 63%281$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($151K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20010 63%125$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($494K more) · more renters
Providence, RI 02906 62%233$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($246K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 62%91$112,428$547,300$256 pricier homes ($155K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Forest Park, IL 60130 62%674$77,221$304,700$244 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Evanston, IL 60201 62%670$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Roslindale, MA 02131 61%262$111,006$664,700$517 pricier homes ($272K more) · more single-family 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.