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 60617

Chicago: median income $51,778, home value $180,700, $139/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21206 76%601$64,531$216,100$166 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06704 73%749$48,718$192,000$205 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21215 73%594$51,587$201,200$132 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Lansdowne, PA 19050 72%654$60,859$201,900$166 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Baltimore, MD 21229 71%595$60,047$201,300$147 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 70%600$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78210 70%1,048$55,028$189,400$174 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 69%591$67,060$260,300$187 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45211 69%236$53,868$169,500$142 smaller · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77087 69%937$52,847$177,900$139 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06610 68%745$51,634$228,300$219 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dundalk, MD 21222 68%605$64,141$215,900$179 pricier homes ($35K more) · 12 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15221 67%410$55,028$171,300$136 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46201 67%155$49,195$170,100$103 smaller · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53209 67%98$48,486$166,700$137 smaller · 13 min shorter commute · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53216 67%96$46,752$143,400$125 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06708 66%748$67,364$218,500$202 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19126 66%658$53,176$225,100$157 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Decatur, GA 30032 66%580$62,765$273,600$185 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77011 66%934$50,133$209,300$179 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06705 65%751$53,954$202,400$198 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30311 65%578$50,649$289,100$136 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · more renters
Houston, TX 77020 65%932$50,119$163,300$175 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Troy, NY 12182 64%713$56,984$212,600$170 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Essex, MD 21221 64%606$67,340$271,500$187 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute

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.