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.

Reset

Towns most like Philadelphia, PA 19127

Philadelphia: median income $102,106, home value $352,500, $239/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60613 71%661$95,572$390,800$337 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21231 67%89$85,254$350,100$226 larger · 12 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21230 64%91$91,842$330,100$234 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20024 62%124$107,411$526,700$367 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Highland Park, NJ 08904 60%53$104,694$471,700$342 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21211 60%89$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older residents
Kew Gardens, NY 11415 59%87$86,394$367,400$399 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
West Hartford, CT 06119 55%177$99,688$378,400$281 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60602 55%659$126,202$391,800$421 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
White Plains, NY 10601 54%103$85,859$372,900$318 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20017 54%121$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($350K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60657 54%661$110,939$537,800$428 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger · newer homes
Arlington, VA 22206 53%129$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($39K more) · pricier homes ($234K more) · larger
Evanston, IL 60202 53%664$98,989$397,600$300 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60660 53%662$67,479$309,100$250 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21210 52%88$112,428$547,300$256 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60640 52%662$73,254$370,300$353 lower income ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22303 51%131$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45209 51%494$93,420$400,700$289 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 16 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60622 51%662$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($286K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60625 51%664$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60615 50%657$63,876$347,800$200 lower income ($38K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60647 50%663$107,060$586,200$403 pricier homes ($234K more) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23507 49%226$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($203K more) · 18 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45202 49%498$95,633$443,600$278 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · 17 min shorter commute

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.