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 19153

Philadelphia: median income $55,213, home value $200,100, $193/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21239 83%81$62,650$207,400$164 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21229 79%88$60,047$201,300$147 larger · older homes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 77%139$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · more renters
Bridgeport, CT 06610 77%141$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 75%18$53,812$194,600$169 larger · 12 min shorter commute · older homes
Hallandale, FL 33009 74%1,002$52,079$269,000$238 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older residents
Pompano Beach, FL 33069 73%987$59,683$269,800$194 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago Ridge, IL 60415 73%666$68,964$226,900$189 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 72%20$52,810$199,900$143 10 min shorter commute · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21215 72%86$51,587$201,200$132 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33179 71%1,005$65,211$286,200$215 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Justice, IL 60458 71%670$60,758$225,000$193 more single-family homes · less walkable · newer homes
Trenton, NJ 08611 70%34$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more renters
Brooklyn, MD 21225 69%87$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Dania, FL 33004 69%998$52,574$342,400$258 pricier homes ($142K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Hometown, IL 60456 69%664$61,101$173,400$215 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07112 68%78$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more renters
Greenbelt, MD 20770 67%108$84,096$255,200$227 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21206 67%79$64,531$216,100$166 larger · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33181 67%1,009$63,275$352,500$295 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · more renters
Fort Myers, FL 33907 67%997$52,478$257,800$155 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
New Haven, CT 06513 66%158$48,500$235,500$210 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 66%138$56,179$335,500$277 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08618 66%34$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33172 66%1,020$63,023$284,400$293 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · older residents

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.