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 60603

Chicago: median income $133,545, home value $633,900, $350/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30363 85%586$123,667$429,900$257 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20004 68%594$184,792$689,600$528 higher income ($51K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37201 60%397$114,229$621,200$596 more renters
Atlanta, GA 30326 54%583$121,984$448,000$323 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more renters
Orlando, FL 32814 53%985$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($120K more) · larger · more renters
Minneapolis, MN 55415 52%354$124,921$625,500$406 larger · more renters
Austin, TX 78701 51%979$162,168$722,400$705 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77046 49%945$131,932$286,500$158 cheaper homes ($347K less) · older residents · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55401 47%355$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($237K less) · larger · more renters
Houston, TX 77098 47%945$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($153K more) · larger · more renters
Nashville, TN 37219 46%397$105,476$640,700$719 lower income ($28K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33131 45%1,191$144,138$655,100$622 larger · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28204 44%589$92,054$585,200$326 lower income ($41K less) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30309 44%586$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($202K less) · larger · more renters
Washington, DC 20036 42%593$99,832$449,300$541 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($185K less) · larger
Washington, DC 20037 41%593$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · more renters
Arlington, VA 22209 41%592$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($186K more) · larger · more renters
Houston, TX 77006 41%944$106,533$614,800$275 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more renters
Houston, TX 77019 41%943$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($183K more) · larger · more renters
Reston, VA 20190 40%577$134,746$581,400$402 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28203 40%588$104,696$707,800$459 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77027 39%945$103,812$859,500$362 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($226K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19106 38%665$121,047$517,900$407 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75219 38%803$102,364$388,600$304 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($245K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 38%918$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · 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.