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 19137

Philadelphia: median income $76,739, home value $227,500, $190/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roebling, NJ 08554 83%18$89,242$200,600$228 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hometown, IL 60456 79%672$61,101$173,400$215 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08629 55%23$82,646$182,400$183 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21239 54%92$62,650$207,400$164 larger · more renters · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21229 53%99$60,047$201,300$147 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19805 52%32$60,221$237,100$204 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
New Britain, CT 06052 50%165$80,506$260,000$179 pricier homes ($33K more) · 12 min shorter commute · more renters
Palmyra, NJ 08065 50%2$89,574$234,800$213 7 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 49%8$63,384$179,200$196 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21224 49%93$89,017$295,200$207 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Derby, CT 06418 47%139$78,542$258,500$231 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Palos Hills, IL 60465 47%676$83,533$279,200$200 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Dundalk, MD 21222 46%91$64,141$215,900$179 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Halethorpe, MD 21227 46%102$85,986$289,400$209 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more renters
Gardner, MA 01440 45%239$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · more renters
Pawtucket, RI 02861 45%233$83,411$315,400$252 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 45%91$96,717$363,100$337 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more renters
Duluth, MN 55808 45%975$62,031$174,200$160 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Melrose Park, IL 60160 45%679$66,189$275,800$230 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · more renters
Schiller Park, IL 60176 45%680$69,696$275,000$219 pricier homes ($48K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Crestwood, IL 60418 45%671$75,752$195,200$174 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01603 44%229$66,049$331,300$257 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · younger residents
Troy, NY 12182 44%206$56,984$212,600$170 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21211 44%95$82,828$284,500$219 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21215 44%97$51,587$201,200$132 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger

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.