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 Chicago, IL 60602

Chicago: median income $126,202, home value $391,800, $421/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75202 66%805$133,155$359,500$250 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
East Rutherford, NJ 07073 59%705$97,993$458,100$397 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20024 58%596$107,411$526,700$367 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · older residents
Nashville, TN 37201 58%398$114,229$621,200$596 pricier homes ($229K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19102 57%664$102,093$479,000$322 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more renters
Santa Cruz, CA 95064 57%1,855$121,042$467,000— pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · younger residents
Highland Park, NJ 08904 56%693$104,694$471,700$342 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · older residents
Conshohocken, PA 19428 56%654$122,835$478,500$315 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19127 55%659$102,106$352,500$239 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Washington, DC 20005 55%594$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($249K more) · larger · older residents
Elmsford, NY 10523 54%717$118,438$588,100$449 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older residents
Arlington, VA 22206 54%593$140,877$586,000$431 pricier homes ($194K more) · larger · older residents
Winooski, VT 05404 53%749$79,522$381,500$280 lower income ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19106 53%665$121,047$517,900$407 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19123 53%664$102,106$539,500$326 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · older residents
Washington, DC 20036 53%593$99,832$449,300$541 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 52%409$114,167$610,200$344 pricier homes ($218K more) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
White Plains, NY 10606 49%719$112,270$682,300$492 pricier homes ($291K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19130 49%663$112,037$491,800$347 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older homes
Bridgeport, PA 19405 49%652$83,859$336,400$226 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Alexandria, VA 22305 49%594$113,537$864,500$521 pricier homes ($473K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55413 49%355$85,282$371,600$249 lower income ($41K less) · larger · older residents
White Plains, NY 10601 48%720$85,859$372,900$318 lower income ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Alexandria, VA 22303 48%595$103,656$552,800$386 pricier homes ($161K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64112 48%415$100,736$410,800$265 lower income ($25K less) · larger · older residents

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.