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 19149

Philadelphia: median income $58,496, home value $211,000, $189/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 88%101$60,047$201,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, NJ 08611 79%21$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, MD 21225 79%100$54,020$229,000$187 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21239 78%93$62,650$207,400$164 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60623 78%671$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($26K more) · more renters · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06610 77%128$51,634$228,300$219 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21215 77%98$51,587$201,200$132 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60651 77%673$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($59K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Chicago, IL 60609 75%668$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($57K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19805 74%34$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($26K more) · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21213 74%95$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06604 73%126$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19802 73%31$53,812$194,600$169 smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21206 73%92$64,531$216,100$166 more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60639 73%674$61,089$309,900$241 pricier homes ($99K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 71%229$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($100K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60632 71%670$64,809$252,600$219 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33313 69%1,004$46,305$256,100$169 pricier homes ($45K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02909 68%226$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($114K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21216 68%99$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 67%230$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($125K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
East Orange, NJ 07017 67%68$58,853$374,800$252 pricier homes ($164K more) · more renters
Newark, NJ 07112 67%65$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · more renters
Denver, CO 80260 67%1,578$61,852$223,200$233 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06114 66%171$52,110$232,800$158 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · 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.