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 60624

Chicago: median income $34,030, home value $230,700, $136/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21217 85%608$38,409$180,100$92 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Camden, NJ 08103 80%671$36,793$138,000$130 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19139 80%665$40,947$133,900$126 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Waterbury, CT 06710 79%756$37,191$228,300$154 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Allentown, PA 18102 79%642$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06608 77%753$45,754$235,800$175 smaller · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19142 76%665$38,376$121,100$133 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21216 75%606$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($83K less) · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19141 73%668$43,998$164,000$145 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19143 73%665$43,244$177,000$148 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Central Falls, RI 02863 71%839$49,285$352,100$193 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19121 71%667$38,516$266,700$156 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents · newer homes
New Bedford, MA 02746 70%864$41,917$358,700$222 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06106 70%773$46,304$214,200$187 11 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06604 68%752$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19131 68%665$48,393$178,500$137 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06112 67%773$44,460$208,000$144 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06114 66%774$52,110$232,800$158 10 min shorter commute
Darby, PA 19023 66%664$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Stockton, CA 95202 66%1,788$31,020$377,400$168 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19134 65%670$44,066$135,400$145 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fall River, MA 02723 64%853$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 64%717$41,126$207,400$211 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19144 64%666$53,161$238,700$161 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21205 64%611$43,176$96,100$131 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller

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.