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 Skokie, IL 60077

Skokie: median income $78,523, home value $355,900, $277/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hollywood, FL 33021 86%1,187$71,318$424,100$320 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Saint Petersburg, FL 33702 86%1,022$67,463$341,700$274 Very close on everything we compare
Towson, MD 21286 84%612$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($74K more) · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19115 83%675$70,054$345,000$250 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19116 82%676$67,535$346,600$249 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, CO 80014 82%906$73,210$416,200$212 pricier homes ($60K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 81%679$100,951$331,200$254 more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85020 81%1,444$83,735$447,200$289 pricier homes ($91K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Little Falls, NJ 07424 80%705$105,050$487,600$384 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($132K more)
Pikesville, MD 21208 80%605$90,131$337,900$194 less walkable
Baltimore, MD 21212 80%612$96,685$373,700$254 older homes
Boynton Beach, FL 33435 80%1,157$67,979$356,200$308 less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55423 80%338$85,182$343,900$217 more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02904 79%837$67,003$339,900$249 more renters
Claymont, DE 19703 79%659$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55118 79%333$87,340$350,600$205 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 79%922$74,402$414,900$260 pricier homes ($59K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
North Providence, RI 02911 78%836$89,456$360,200$251 smaller · more single-family homes
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 78%676$80,833$300,500$259 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 78%724$96,717$363,100$337 6 min longer commute · older homes
Oakmont, PA 15139 78%424$92,782$334,500$237 smaller
Bensalem, PA 19020 78%680$83,223$362,800$256 larger · less walkable
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 78%664$89,234$271,100$201 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19128 78%667$93,173$353,500$256 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 78%1,177$75,361$469,700$375 pricier homes ($114K more)

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.