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 60610

Chicago: median income $105,226, home value $505,900, $394/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, DC 20024 88%596$107,411$526,700$367 smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19130 85%663$112,037$491,800$347 older homes
Dallas, TX 75206 85%802$91,023$615,400$363 pricier homes ($110K more) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 82%664$99,644$582,500$477 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20005 81%595$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19123 79%665$102,106$539,500$326 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30309 79%587$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($74K less) · newer homes
Washington, DC 20001 78%595$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($347K more)
Arlington, VA 22209 77%593$120,515$820,000$602 pricier homes ($314K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30308 77%589$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75219 77%804$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · newer homes
Washington, DC 20037 76%594$111,153$685,300$639 pricier homes ($179K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Rockville, MD 20852 76%586$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($159K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80203 76%918$77,500$470,800$361 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22206 75%593$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30324 75%586$92,122$502,500$277 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Houston, TX 77006 75%945$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Arlington, VA 22202 74%595$133,762$899,000$453 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($393K more) · smaller
Arlington, VA 22203 74%591$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($321K more) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30339 73%581$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($40K less) · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98102 73%1,732$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($457K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19106 72%665$121,047$517,900$407 smaller · older residents · more walkable
Silver Spring, MD 20910 72%592$112,134$730,900$364 pricier homes ($225K more) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Alexandria, VA 22304 72%593$101,600$508,200$320 older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19102 71%664$102,093$479,000$322 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 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.