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 60623

Chicago: median income $51,878, home value $237,200, $151/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Trenton, NJ 08611 85%685$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Upper Darby, PA 19082 85%662$57,108$169,900$172 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Hartford, CT 06114 84%774$52,110$232,800$158 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Brooklyn, MD 21225 84%610$54,020$229,000$187 smaller · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21215 82%604$51,587$201,200$132 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · older residents
Woonsocket, RI 02895 81%832$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21229 81%605$60,047$201,300$147 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19141 80%667$43,998$164,000$145 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19143 80%665$43,244$177,000$148 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgeport, CT 06604 79%751$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19131 79%664$48,393$178,500$137 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Philadelphia, PA 19144 79%666$53,161$238,700$161 smaller
Baltimore, MD 21213 79%610$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Bridgeport, CT 06610 78%753$51,634$228,300$219 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19149 78%671$58,496$211,000$189 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Providence, RI 02909 77%836$64,649$325,300$250 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18102 77%641$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19124 77%670$45,314$161,800$140 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19134 77%670$44,066$135,400$145 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19136 77%673$56,687$226,100$198 smaller · more homeowners · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21216 77%605$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Pawtucket, RI 02860 76%839$61,539$336,100$250 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06704 76%757$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Darby, PA 19023 76%663$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · newer homes
Newark, NJ 07106 75%703$53,440$355,400$243 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · newer homes

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.