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 Baltimore, MD 21212

Baltimore: median income $96,685, home value $373,700, $254/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Evanston, IL 60202 90%608$98,989$397,600$300 Very close on everything we compare
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 88%80$89,234$271,100$201 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 87%182$96,717$363,100$337 smaller · older residents
Collingswood, NJ 08108 86%91$108,151$395,300$332 smaller · more single-family homes
Elkins Park, PA 19027 86%93$106,066$391,600$208 smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60630 86%611$98,860$384,500$282 larger
Philadelphia, PA 19119 85%90$92,651$371,300$245 more apartments and townhomes
Philadelphia, PA 19128 85%87$93,173$353,500$256 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Jenkintown, PA 19046 83%95$109,818$470,800$243 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60656 83%616$95,766$348,700$275 cheaper homes ($25K less) · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01602 82%320$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($44K more) · more single-family homes
Oak Park, IL 60302 81%611$100,680$474,200$287 pricier homes ($101K more)
Worcester, MA 01606 80%324$92,105$370,800$317 more single-family homes
Skokie, IL 60077 80%612$78,523$355,900$277 newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55418 79%934$99,397$348,700$232 cheaper homes ($25K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55426 79%940$99,347$364,600$237 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 79%624$99,743$390,000$261 newer homes
Forest Park, IL 60130 79%612$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · more renters
Little Falls, NJ 07424 78%164$105,050$487,600$384 pricier homes ($114K more) · newer homes
Des Plaines, IL 60016 78%618$86,571$320,400$241 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60645 78%608$76,045$328,200$224 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 77%93$100,951$331,200$254 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53226 77%646$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Portland, ME 04103 76%443$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($86K more) · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bloomfield, NJ 07003 76%162$103,663$470,600$421 pricier homes ($97K 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.