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 19134

Philadelphia: median income $44,066, home value $135,400, $145/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21213 90%91$51,344$155,000$114 smaller
Baltimore, MD 21216 90%95$42,031$147,800$112 smaller
Trenton, NJ 08611 80%25$56,788$160,500$181 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21215 79%95$51,587$201,200$132 pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 77%28$53,812$194,600$169 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21205 77%91$43,176$96,100$131 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · more renters
Chicago, IL 60623 77%670$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21229 74%97$60,047$201,300$147 pricier homes ($66K more) · newer homes
Camden, NJ 08103 72%4$36,793$138,000$130 smaller · more renters
Camden, NJ 08105 72%3$45,974$121,100$182 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Hartford, CT 06114 71%175$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21217 69%94$38,409$180,100$92 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53215 69%695$54,289$156,800$150 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 68%96$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44102 68%362$42,714$113,400$126 more renters · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06112 66%177$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08618 66%24$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19805 65%30$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($102K more) · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21239 65%90$62,650$207,400$164 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60624 65%670$34,030$230,700$136 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06610 64%132$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · older residents
Camden, NJ 08104 64%5$38,170$93,100$158 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14207 64%283$39,753$133,600$103 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14210 64%276$54,197$129,800$116 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53210 64%697$48,217$174,400$100 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 6 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.