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 19147

Philadelphia: median income $105,755, home value $530,900, $366/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60647 84%669$107,060$586,200$403 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60618 82%669$106,384$562,700$389 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Washington, DC 20011 81%120$110,309$723,900$379 pricier homes ($193K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20010 80%122$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($356K more) · more renters
Watertown, MA 02472 79%267$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($254K more)
Washington, DC 20017 79%120$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($172K more) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60622 79%667$136,277$638,100$414 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($107K more) · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21230 78%91$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($201K less)
Washington, DC 20002 75%121$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($296K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60613 75%667$95,572$390,800$337 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 5 min longer commute · more renters
Chicago, IL 60625 74%669$85,703$401,900$333 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger · more renters
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 73%267$131,551$822,300$642 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($291K more)
Evanston, IL 60202 72%669$98,989$397,600$300 cheaper homes ($133K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02906 71%236$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Oak Park, IL 60302 71%673$100,680$474,200$287 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Salem, MA 01970 69%284$85,041$542,900$418 more single-family homes · less walkable
Evanston, IL 60201 69%669$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($60K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Somerville, MA 02145 68%271$123,755$828,600$598 pricier homes ($298K more) · more renters
Medford, MA 02155 68%271$129,700$755,500$496 pricier homes ($225K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Waltham, MA 02453 67%264$115,366$705,100$473 pricier homes ($174K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 67%89$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22206 67%128$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Roslindale, MA 02131 66%265$111,006$664,700$517 pricier homes ($134K more) · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21231 66%88$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($181K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Alexandria, VA 22302 65%129$123,539$631,100$441 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · 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.