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 21217

Baltimore: median income $38,409, home value $180,100, $92/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chicago, IL 60649 90%598$44,175$213,200$84 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19139 88%88$40,947$133,900$126 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Chicago, IL 60624 85%608$34,030$230,700$136 pricier homes ($51K more)
Camden, NJ 08103 79%92$36,793$138,000$130 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19141 78%94$43,998$164,000$145 more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60644 78%609$40,950$239,000$149 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19131 77%88$48,393$178,500$137 younger residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19142 77%86$38,376$121,100$133 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19143 77%87$43,244$177,000$148 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60621 77%602$31,905$153,500$94 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes
Allentown, PA 18102 72%109$43,085$163,400$147 larger · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
York, PA 17401 70%46$42,826$104,400$93 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19134 69%94$44,066$135,400$145 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19144 69%93$53,161$238,700$161 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Darby, PA 19023 68%84$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19133 67%93$31,034$89,500$73 cheaper homes ($91K less) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19140 67%93$36,226$107,300$105 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more homeowners
Waterbury, CT 06710 66%245$37,191$228,300$154 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19132 66%92$32,823$81,400$86 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60623 66%607$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bridgeport, CT 06608 65%224$45,754$235,800$175 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · newer homes
Albany, NY 12206 65%276$41,548$162,300$112 smaller · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Albany, NY 12202 64%275$52,868$166,000$118 smaller · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06604 63%223$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($87K more) · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 63%65$52,810$199,900$143 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · newer 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.