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 19145

Philadelphia: median income $71,965, home value $306,200, $243/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21224 88%85$89,017$295,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21218 85%86$62,488$242,500$161 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Chicago, IL 60659 85%669$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($66K more) · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60645 84%668$76,045$328,200$224 more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60608 81%665$73,366$358,600$300 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21239 76%84$62,650$207,400$164 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · newer homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 75%239$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02909 75%235$64,649$325,300$250 younger residents · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21230 75%89$91,842$330,100$234 younger residents
Providence, RI 02908 74%236$73,081$324,100$240 younger residents · more single-family homes
Forest Park, IL 60130 74%673$77,221$304,700$244 smaller · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 73%87$82,828$284,500$219 smaller
Worcester, MA 01603 72%237$66,049$331,300$257 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01604 72%240$73,505$352,500$271 pricier homes ($46K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19805 72%25$60,221$237,100$204 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more single-family homes
Lowell, MA 01852 70%275$80,906$424,300$328 pricier homes ($118K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Garfield, NJ 07026 70%87$79,700$475,500$381 pricier homes ($169K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Salem, MA 01970 68%286$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($237K more) · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 68%22$53,812$194,600$169 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21229 68%92$60,047$201,300$147 cheaper homes ($105K less) · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01607 67%238$78,727$377,200$253 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 67%976$76,406$292,200$225 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Chicago, IL 60609 67%664$58,896$268,300$213 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more renters · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60625 67%668$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63104 67%808$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 8 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.