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 19151

Philadelphia: median income $54,634, home value $194,700, $167/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21229 88%90$60,047$201,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21213 84%84$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Baltimore, MD 21239 84%83$62,650$207,400$164 newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21215 82%87$51,587$201,200$132 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21218 82%85$62,488$242,500$161 pricier homes ($48K more) · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19802 81%21$53,812$194,600$169 10 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21216 77%88$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Trenton, NJ 08611 76%32$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19805 76%24$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($42K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60623 75%663$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more renters
Brooklyn, MD 21225 73%89$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 72%136$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($72K more) · more renters
Chicago, IL 60609 72%659$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more renters
Chicago, IL 60651 72%664$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06610 71%138$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Baltimore, MD 21206 70%82$64,531$216,100$166 more single-family homes · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06114 67%181$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($38K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08618 67%31$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($32K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Providence, RI 02909 66%236$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($131K more) · more renters
Troy, NY 12182 64%211$56,984$212,600$170 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60639 64%665$61,089$309,900$241 pricier homes ($115K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pawtucket, RI 02860 63%240$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($141K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Chicago, IL 60659 63%664$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($177K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Woonsocket, RI 02895 62%239$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($116K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 62%23$52,810$199,900$143 smaller · 8 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.