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 60607

Chicago: median income $127,732, home value $499,700, $417/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30309 88%586$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($67K less) · less walkable
Miami, FL 33131 84%1,192$144,138$655,100$622 pricier homes ($155K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75219 83%802$102,364$388,600$304 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 79%354$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80202 79%917$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller · more renters
Charlotte, NC 28202 78%588$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · more renters
Houston, TX 77006 78%943$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($115K more) · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 77%588$85,693$390,200$359 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($110K less)
Atlanta, GA 30326 76%583$121,984$448,000$323 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · less walkable
Washington, DC 20001 75%596$138,059$852,600$552 pricier homes ($353K more) · older homes
Arlington, VA 22203 75%592$140,135$826,800$511 pricier homes ($327K more)
Charlotte, NC 28203 75%589$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($208K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22201 73%593$145,000$781,600$625 pricier homes ($282K more) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55415 73%353$124,921$625,500$406 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Seattle, WA 98121 73%1,732$152,019$848,400$575 pricier homes ($349K more) · smaller · more renters
Washington, DC 20003 72%598$159,846$957,700$625 higher income ($32K more) · pricier homes ($458K more)
Miami, FL 33132 72%1,190$109,109$524,300$550 smaller · more renters
Houston, TX 77098 72%943$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($288K more) · smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19123 71%665$102,106$539,500$326 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28204 71%590$92,054$585,200$326 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77019 71%942$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($317K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Reston, VA 20190 70%578$134,746$581,400$402 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · less walkable
Arlington, VA 22209 70%593$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($320K more) · smaller · more renters
Orlando, FL 32814 70%985$140,274$754,300$363 pricier homes ($255K more) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75206 70%799$91,023$615,400$363 lower income ($37K less) · pricier homes ($116K more) · 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.