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 60606

Chicago: median income $128,609, home value $416,400, $334/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55401 82%354$113,522$396,500$318 larger
Atlanta, GA 30363 77%587$123,667$429,900$257 more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30326 76%583$121,984$448,000$323 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28204 68%590$92,054$585,200$326 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($169K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37219 68%398$105,476$640,700$719 pricier homes ($224K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55415 68%353$124,921$625,500$406 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger
Dallas, TX 75219 67%803$102,364$388,600$304 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19102 65%664$102,093$479,000$322 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30309 63%586$114,072$432,300$342 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Orlando, FL 32814 63%986$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($338K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37201 63%398$114,229$621,200$596 pricier homes ($205K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77098 63%945$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($371K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80202 63%918$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($306K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28202 62%588$105,889$443,500$361 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77006 62%944$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($198K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33131 61%1,192$144,138$655,100$622 pricier homes ($239K more) · larger
Stamford, CT 06901 60%731$102,641$478,700$463 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20004 60%595$184,792$689,600$528 higher income ($56K more) · pricier homes ($273K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28203 60%589$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($291K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 60%588$85,693$390,200$359 lower income ($43K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30346 59%579$95,000$595,900$323 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($180K more) · more renters
Dallas, TX 75202 59%805$133,155$359,500$250 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Washington, DC 20037 58%594$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($269K more) · larger · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78215 57%1,052$84,437$476,500$325 lower income ($44K less) · pricier homes ($60K more) · more renters
Seattle, WA 98121 57%1,733$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($432K more) · larger

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.