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 Wilmington, DE 19806

Wilmington: median income $88,855, home value $386,000, $259/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55435 76%972$79,884$361,300$216 6 min longer commute · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 69%1,064$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($177K more) · younger residents · more renters
Kansas City, MO 64112 68%1,015$100,736$410,800$265 younger residents · more single-family homes
Northampton, MA 01060 66%234$76,848$453,400$344 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21211 64%64$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55102 63%963$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · younger residents
Evanston, IL 60202 61%652$98,989$397,600$300 larger · younger residents · 11 min longer commute
White Plains, NY 10601 60%129$85,859$372,900$318 younger residents · 11 min longer commute · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55413 60%970$85,282$371,600$249 younger residents · more renters · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19106 59%26$121,047$517,900$407 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($132K more) · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55116 59%965$81,141$418,200$260 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Forest Park, IL 60130 59%656$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19118 57%29$109,649$718,300$399 pricier homes ($332K more) · 12 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19129 57%27$80,606$323,600$274 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents · 12 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21230 57%66$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23507 57%204$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($169K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 56%278$81,652$407,600$217 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80218 56%1,555$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($291K more) · larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 55%237$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Ardmore, PA 19003 55%22$119,861$448,500$329 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($63K more) · younger residents
Wyncote, PA 19095 55%32$97,727$456,400$208 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19119 55%29$92,651$371,300$245 larger · younger residents · 14 min longer commute
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701 55%922$73,542$637,700$514 pricier homes ($252K more) · larger · newer homes
Portland, ME 04102 54%383$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21231 54%64$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger 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.