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 60612

Chicago: median income $60,922, home value $364,600, $292/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33181 94%1,185$63,275$352,500$295 smaller
Yonkers, NY 10701 88%718$64,776$370,400$306 larger
Houston, TX 77042 87%947$59,097$411,800$202 pricier homes ($47K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80247 85%910$64,498$318,400$223 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 85%1,781$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($76K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 84%749$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older homes
Houston, TX 77057 83%945$66,971$309,400$179 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Lowell, MA 01854 82%836$72,709$412,000$330 pricier homes ($47K more)
West New York, NJ 07093 82%713$73,174$431,500$445 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Philadelphia, PA 19122 82%667$63,676$349,800$247 younger residents · newer homes
Houston, TX 77063 81%946$59,113$290,300$170 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07104 79%705$53,978$388,800$219 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21202 79%608$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Dania, FL 33004 78%1,175$52,574$342,400$258 smaller · older residents
Miami Beach, FL 33141 78%1,188$68,738$435,000$405 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314 78%1,172$66,100$383,400$347 newer homes
Dallas, TX 75231 78%796$58,540$522,400$256 pricier homes ($158K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Worcester, MA 01605 77%815$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($28K more) · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Jersey City, NJ 07305 77%710$76,527$450,800$353 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55403 77%352$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75254 77%794$67,216$287,300$217 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Denver, CO 80231 77%911$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($136K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Orange, NJ 07050 76%701$52,563$364,500$306 older homes
Jersey City, NJ 07304 76%710$70,986$537,200$429 pricier homes ($173K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Hackensack, NJ 07601 76%710$84,277$393,700$388 pricier homes ($29K more) · 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.