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 21216

Baltimore: median income $42,031, home value $147,800, $112/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19142 93%87$38,376$121,100$133 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19141 91%95$43,998$164,000$145 older residents
Darby, PA 19023 90%86$46,463$153,300$141 newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19134 90%95$44,066$135,400$145 larger
Philadelphia, PA 19139 90%89$40,947$133,900$126 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19124 87%97$45,314$161,800$140 larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19140 87%94$36,226$107,300$105 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19143 86%88$43,244$177,000$148 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19131 83%90$48,393$178,500$137 pricier homes ($31K more)
Camden, NJ 08103 79%94$36,793$138,000$130 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Upper Darby, PA 19082 79%87$57,108$169,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19132 77%93$32,823$81,400$86 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19151 77%88$54,634$194,700$167 pricier homes ($47K more)
Chicago, IL 60623 77%605$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19126 76%96$53,176$225,100$157 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19135 76%99$53,138$196,600$173 pricier homes ($49K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Reading, PA 19601 75%82$40,973$123,100$127 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Chicago, IL 60624 75%606$34,030$230,700$136 pricier homes ($83K more) · more renters
Chicago, IL 60644 75%608$40,950$239,000$149 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08611 74%120$56,788$160,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Allentown, PA 18102 73%110$43,085$163,400$147 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19120 72%96$54,000$155,500$156 larger · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60621 72%600$31,905$153,500$94 more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19133 71%94$31,034$89,500$73 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Hartford, CT 06112 70%270$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($60K more) · 9 min shorter commute · 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.