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 19126

Philadelphia: median income $53,176, home value $225,100, $157/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 87%98$60,047$201,300$147 larger
Baltimore, MD 21215 82%96$51,587$201,200$132 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06610 80%130$51,634$228,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21213 79%92$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21239 78%91$62,650$207,400$164 larger · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60651 78%669$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more renters
Brooklyn, MD 21225 77%97$54,020$229,000$187 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21216 76%96$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Wilmington, DE 19805 74%32$60,221$237,100$204 larger · 11 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21206 74%90$64,531$216,100$166 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60609 74%664$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60623 74%667$51,878$237,200$151 larger · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06604 72%128$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08611 71%24$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Troy, NY 12182 71%203$56,984$212,600$170 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 71%30$53,812$194,600$169 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 13 min shorter commute · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21218 71%93$62,488$242,500$161 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Chicago, IL 60619 71%661$45,206$219,600$133 larger · older residents · more renters
Chicago, IL 60639 69%670$61,089$309,900$241 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · more renters
Blue Island, IL 60406 67%664$56,557$175,200$138 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60620 67%663$48,146$197,700$134 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60632 67%666$64,809$252,600$219 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 66%23$50,390$227,000$186 larger · 12 min shorter commute · more renters
Hometown, IL 60456 66%667$61,101$173,400$215 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60617 66%658$51,778$180,700$139 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 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.