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 21229

Baltimore: median income $60,047, home value $201,300, $147/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19136 92%103$56,687$226,100$198 Very close on everything we compare
Lansdowne, PA 19050 91%88$60,859$201,900$166 smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19135 88%101$53,138$196,600$173 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19149 88%101$58,496$211,000$189 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19151 88%90$54,634$194,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Upper Darby, PA 19082 87%89$57,108$169,900$172 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19111 87%101$61,138$253,700$218 pricier homes ($52K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19126 87%98$53,176$225,100$157 smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19138 85%97$57,744$177,000$165 smaller · more homeowners
Wilmington, DE 19805 84%67$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($36K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06610 83%228$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Norristown, PA 19401 82%93$69,908$234,000$201 pricier homes ($33K more)
Clifton Heights, PA 19018 81%87$73,522$225,100$202 smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19131 81%92$48,393$178,500$137 more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19152 81%102$59,408$293,700$244 pricier homes ($92K more)
Chicago, IL 60623 81%605$51,878$237,200$151 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more renters
Darby, PA 19023 80%87$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Wilmington, DE 19802 80%70$53,812$194,600$169 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08611 79%122$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more renters
Easton, PA 18042 79%122$77,556$230,200$186 pricier homes ($29K more) · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19153 79%88$55,213$200,100$193 smaller · newer homes
Blue Island, IL 60406 79%600$56,557$175,200$138 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60609 79%601$58,896$268,300$213 pricier homes ($67K more) · more renters · older homes
Chicago, IL 60651 79%607$54,409$269,900$199 pricier homes ($69K more) · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 78%121$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min shorter commute

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.