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 19139

Philadelphia: median income $40,947, home value $133,900, $126/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21216 90%89$42,031$147,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21217 88%88$38,409$180,100$92 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Baltimore, MD 21205 85%85$43,176$96,100$131 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Camden, NJ 08103 82%7$36,793$138,000$130 smaller
Baltimore, MD 21213 82%85$51,344$155,000$114 smaller · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60624 80%665$34,030$230,700$136 pricier homes ($97K more)
Trenton, NJ 08611 75%31$56,788$160,500$181 pricier homes ($27K more)
Chicago, IL 60644 75%667$40,950$239,000$149 pricier homes ($105K more)
Chicago, IL 60623 73%664$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60649 72%656$44,175$213,200$84 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21223 71%89$45,840$110,600$58 smaller
Camden, NJ 08104 69%7$38,170$93,100$158 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44102 67%356$42,714$113,400$126 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60621 67%660$31,905$153,500$94 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 66%136$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($133K more) · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60637 66%658$43,609$257,300$187 pricier homes ($123K more) · more renters
Hartford, CT 06114 65%181$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Camden, NJ 08105 65%8$45,974$121,100$182 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 65%21$53,812$194,600$169 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21215 65%88$51,587$201,200$132 pricier homes ($67K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12202 64%200$52,868$166,000$118 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Albany, NY 12206 64%202$41,548$162,300$112 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19801 64%23$52,810$199,900$143 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06106 63%181$46,304$214,200$187 pricier homes ($80K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06608 63%137$45,754$235,800$175 pricier homes ($102K more) · smaller · more renters

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.