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.

Reset

Towns most like Baltimore, MD 21205

Baltimore: median income $43,176, home value $96,100, $131/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Camden, NJ 08103 90%90$36,793$138,000$130 pricier homes ($42K more)
York, PA 17401 87%46$42,826$104,400$93 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19142 87%84$38,376$121,100$133 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Camden, NJ 08104 85%89$38,170$93,100$158 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19139 85%85$40,947$133,900$126 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19141 78%92$43,998$164,000$145 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · more homeowners
Harrisburg, PA 17104 77%68$46,510$104,800$104 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Crum Lynne, PA 19022 77%77$48,969$134,600$129 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19134 77%91$44,066$135,400$145 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more homeowners
Reading, PA 19602 76%79$34,582$96,000$121 less walkable
Allentown, PA 18102 75%107$43,085$163,400$147 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Chester, PA 19013 75%75$41,261$83,700$70 larger · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Reading, PA 19601 75%80$40,973$123,100$127 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · less walkable
Camden, NJ 08105 74%91$45,974$121,100$182 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · younger residents
Darby, PA 19023 74%82$46,463$153,300$141 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Camden, NJ 08102 73%90$33,852$84,500$80 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08611 73%116$56,788$160,500$181 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19140 73%91$36,226$107,300$105 larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19132 72%89$32,823$81,400$86 larger · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12202 71%274$52,868$166,000$118 pricier homes ($70K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Harrisburg, PA 17103 70%69$39,825$137,900$90 pricier homes ($42K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14207 69%279$39,753$133,600$103 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19131 69%86$48,393$178,500$137 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19133 69%90$31,034$89,500$73 larger · 6 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44102 69%310$42,714$113,400$126 larger · more single-family homes

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.