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 19138

Philadelphia: median income $57,744, home value $177,000, $165/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 85%97$60,047$201,300$147 larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21213 81%92$51,344$155,000$114 more renters
Baltimore, MD 21215 79%95$51,587$201,200$132 larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21239 76%90$62,650$207,400$164 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Hometown, IL 60456 75%666$61,101$173,400$215 smaller
Wilmington, DE 19805 72%31$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($60K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06610 71%131$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($51K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21216 70%96$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19802 69%29$53,812$194,600$169 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Brooklyn, MD 21225 67%97$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08611 66%25$56,788$160,500$181 younger residents · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21206 66%89$64,531$216,100$166 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more renters
Dundalk, MD 21222 65%90$64,141$215,900$179 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60623 65%666$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60651 65%668$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60632 64%665$64,809$252,600$219 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60609 62%663$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21218 61%92$62,488$242,500$161 pricier homes ($66K more) · more renters
Troy, NY 12182 60%204$56,984$212,600$170 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Blue Island, IL 60406 59%663$56,557$175,200$138 more renters · more single-family homes · newer homes
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 58%12$63,384$179,200$196 smaller · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08629 58%25$82,646$182,400$183 smaller · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60639 58%669$61,089$309,900$241 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · more renters
Hartford, CT 06114 57%174$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($56K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33319 57%1,002$58,388$246,600$184 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more single-family 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.