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 19129

Philadelphia: median income $80,606, home value $323,600, $274/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21230 86%92$91,842$330,100$234 larger
Forest Park, IL 60130 84%671$77,221$304,700$244 more single-family homes
White Plains, NY 10601 83%103$85,859$372,900$318 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21211 82%90$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60660 81%664$67,479$309,100$250 larger
Chicago, IL 60645 79%666$76,045$328,200$224 larger
Kew Gardens, NY 11415 77%86$86,394$367,400$399 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21224 77%88$89,017$295,200$207 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60659 77%667$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21231 75%90$85,254$350,100$226 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Falls Church, VA 22041 75%132$92,636$452,300$311 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · newer homes
Evanston, IL 60202 75%666$98,989$397,600$300 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60615 75%659$63,876$347,800$200 larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60616 75%661$73,819$387,200$318 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · newer homes
Greenbelt, MD 20770 74%114$84,096$255,200$227 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60613 73%664$95,572$390,800$337 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60625 73%666$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · older homes
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 72%81$97,993$458,100$397 pricier homes ($135K more) · more renters · newer homes
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 72%95$96,717$363,100$337 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Chicago, IL 60640 72%664$73,254$370,300$353 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more renters
Towson, MD 21286 71%85$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33181 71%1,016$63,275$352,500$295 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55413 70%980$85,282$371,600$249 pricier homes ($48K more) · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06515 69%148$73,709$328,900$254 larger · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Wallington, NJ 07057 69%81$85,862$528,300$392 pricier homes ($205K more)

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.