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 19150

Philadelphia: median income $66,936, home value $236,300, $200/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 72%97$60,047$201,300$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21239 67%90$62,650$207,400$164 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33319 67%1,003$58,388$246,600$184 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33179 66%1,017$65,211$286,200$215 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more renters
Hometown, IL 60456 65%665$61,101$173,400$215 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Palos Hills, IL 60465 65%670$83,533$279,200$200 pricier homes ($43K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60645 63%666$76,045$328,200$224 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21206 62%89$64,531$216,100$166 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Peekskill, NY 10566 61%107$85,954$395,600$330 pricier homes ($159K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Hallandale, FL 33009 61%1,015$52,079$269,000$238 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21215 60%95$51,587$201,200$132 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Essex, MD 21221 60%86$67,340$271,500$187 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Pompano Beach, FL 33063 60%997$62,918$295,700$246 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33321 60%1,002$62,066$288,100$226 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Bridgeport, CT 06610 59%131$51,634$228,300$219 6 min shorter commute · more renters · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19805 59%32$60,221$237,100$204 larger · younger residents · 13 min shorter commute
Crestwood, IL 60418 59%665$75,752$195,200$174 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older residents
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 58%993$53,254$263,600$210 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Gardner, MA 01440 57%239$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Derby, CT 06418 57%139$78,542$258,500$231 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · more renters
Temple Hills, MD 20748 57%128$83,162$384,300$237 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06606 56%129$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
District Heights, MD 20747 56%124$76,298$344,800$228 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60632 56%664$64,809$252,600$219 larger · younger residents · more renters
Elmwood Park, IL 60707 56%671$84,799$332,000$234 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · 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.