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 21224

Baltimore: median income $89,017, home value $295,200, $207/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19148 92%86$82,605$307,000$251 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19145 88%85$71,965$306,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
Chicago, IL 60645 85%613$76,045$328,200$224 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19119 82%90$92,651$371,300$245 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19128 82%88$93,173$353,500$256 pricier homes ($58K more) · newer homes
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 80%81$89,234$271,100$201 more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60659 80%614$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($77K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19125 77%90$109,554$392,400$287 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19129 77%88$80,606$323,600$274 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · newer homes
Forest Park, IL 60130 76%616$77,221$304,700$244 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60625 74%613$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Easton, PA 18042 73%118$77,556$230,200$186 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19146 73%86$103,059$461,000$340 pricier homes ($166K more)
Chicago, IL 60608 73%609$73,366$358,600$300 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · more renters
Troy, NY 12180 69%281$75,851$244,400$176 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bethlehem, PA 18018 69%111$75,417$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 69%932$76,406$292,200$225 smaller · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 68%183$96,717$363,100$337 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · older residents
Lakewood, OH 44107 68%315$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63104 68%735$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Evanston, IL 60202 67%613$98,989$397,600$300 pricier homes ($102K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Salem, MA 01970 66%370$85,041$542,900$418 pricier homes ($248K more) · older residents
Providence, RI 02908 66%321$73,081$324,100$240 pricier homes ($29K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 66%280$69,629$294,700$200 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 66%196$72,920$317,600$235 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · 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.