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 19136

Philadelphia: median income $56,687, home value $226,100, $198/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 92%103$60,047$201,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21239 88%96$62,650$207,400$164 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeport, CT 06610 85%126$51,634$228,300$219 smaller · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21215 84%100$51,587$201,200$132 Very close on everything we compare
Brooklyn, MD 21225 84%102$54,020$229,000$187 more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 83%33$53,812$194,600$169 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19805 83%36$60,221$237,100$204 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08611 80%19$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06604 79%124$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($41K more) · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21206 79%94$64,531$216,100$166 more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60609 77%670$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60623 77%673$51,878$237,200$151 larger · more renters · older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 76%227$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($85K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 76%19$50,390$227,000$186 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21213 76%97$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Chicago, IL 60651 76%675$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 74%228$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($110K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
New Haven, CT 06513 73%143$48,500$235,500$210 7 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313 73%1,005$46,305$256,100$169 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06114 72%170$52,110$232,800$158 8 min shorter commute · more renters · older homes
Dundalk, MD 21222 72%95$64,141$215,900$179 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33179 72%1,018$65,211$286,200$215 pricier homes ($60K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Providence, RI 02909 71%224$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($99K more) · more renters · older homes
Newark, NJ 07112 71%63$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($110K more) · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21218 71%98$62,488$242,500$161 older 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.