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 21230

Baltimore: median income $91,842, home value $330,100, $234/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19146 88%90$103,059$461,000$340 pricier homes ($131K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19125 86%94$109,554$392,400$287 pricier homes ($62K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19129 86%92$80,606$323,600$274 smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19128 84%92$93,173$353,500$256 newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19147 78%91$105,755$530,900$366 pricier homes ($201K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19119 77%94$92,651$371,300$245 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19148 77%90$82,605$307,000$251 larger · more homeowners
Forest Park, IL 60130 76%614$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60625 76%610$85,703$401,900$333 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60645 76%610$76,045$328,200$224 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19145 75%89$71,965$306,200$243 older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55102 75%930$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Evanston, IL 60202 73%610$98,989$397,600$300 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60659 73%611$68,704$371,800$230 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 72%278$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 72%195$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 72%193$72,920$317,600$235 more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60615 72%602$63,876$347,800$200 lower income ($28K less) · more renters
Chicago, IL 60613 71%607$95,572$390,800$337 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
West Hartford, CT 06119 70%268$99,688$378,400$281 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Ardmore, PA 19003 69%87$119,861$448,500$329 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45202 69%422$95,633$443,600$278 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55405 69%939$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($138K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60616 69%604$73,819$387,200$318 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60660 69%608$67,479$309,100$250 10 min longer 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.