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 Evanston, IL 60201

Evanston: median income $90,545, home value $590,700, $370/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Providence, RI 02906 87%836$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · older homes
Portland, OR 97202 85%1,745$104,971$700,800$340 pricier homes ($110K more) · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80211 84%917$121,439$807,100$442 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($216K more)
Madison, WI 53705 83%114$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70115 83%848$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($52K more) · older homes
Highland Park, NJ 08904 82%697$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · more renters
Denver, CO 80205 82%914$104,836$649,300$391 pricier homes ($59K more) · more renters · newer homes
Denver, CO 80206 81%914$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($325K more) · smaller
Denver, CO 80220 81%912$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($215K more) · more single-family homes
Richmond, VA 23221 80%624$99,816$582,000$405 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30306 80%600$123,077$799,800$389 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($209K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77079 80%956$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($89K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80222 80%914$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Waltham, MA 02453 79%841$115,366$705,100$473 pricier homes ($114K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 79%419$95,668$455,100$281 cheaper homes ($136K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20017 79%602$106,300$702,600$370 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55416 79%346$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($129K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80224 79%913$86,352$604,000$274 smaller · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 79%1,252$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($189K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97217 79%1,747$100,361$578,700$311 more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 78%608$112,428$547,300$256 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Conshohocken, PA 19428 77%659$122,835$478,500$315 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Towson, MD 21204 77%608$99,606$594,800$261 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Alexandria, VA 22302 77%600$123,539$631,100$441 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Northampton, MA 01060 76%770$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · older 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.