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 60619

Chicago: median income $45,206, home value $219,600, $133/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21215 82%597$51,587$201,200$132 8 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30311 76%580$50,649$289,100$136 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15221 75%413$55,028$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Lansdowne, PA 19050 75%656$60,859$201,900$166 smaller · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21206 75%604$64,531$216,100$166 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06610 74%747$51,634$228,300$219 smaller
Baltimore, MD 21229 74%598$60,047$201,300$147 more apartments and townhomes
Waterbury, CT 06704 73%751$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · younger residents
Brooklyn, MD 21225 72%603$54,020$229,000$187 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06604 71%746$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19126 71%661$53,176$225,100$157 smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70117 71%825$45,764$260,000$162 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53209 70%96$48,486$166,700$137 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Darby, PA 19023 68%657$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19141 68%661$43,998$164,000$145 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19143 68%658$43,244$177,000$148 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Baltimore, MD 21216 68%598$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45237 68%242$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77021 68%938$45,574$227,900$152 smaller · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08618 67%676$50,390$227,000$186 smaller · younger residents · 13 min shorter commute
Troy, NY 12182 67%716$56,984$212,600$170 smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19144 67%659$53,161$238,700$161 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Detroit, MI 48214 67%240$33,544$147,300$113 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06706 66%752$52,242$210,700$188 smaller · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07106 66%697$53,440$355,400$243 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · younger 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.