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 60629

Chicago: median income $60,826, home value $243,600, $205/sq ft, 37-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75211 81%803$56,807$219,300$207 10 min shorter commute
Garland, TX 75042 78%785$64,266$240,200$185 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75228 78%790$62,667$282,700$214 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 77%600$67,060$260,300$187 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Garland, TX 75041 77%786$70,308$232,100$181 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dundalk, MD 21222 76%613$64,141$215,900$179 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Decatur, GA 30032 76%586$62,765$273,600$185 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06606 75%750$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06708 75%755$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 75%603$76,466$341,000$250 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21206 75%609$64,531$216,100$166 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75224 73%802$51,919$239,600$207 smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75227 73%794$64,008$217,000$160 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78210 73%1,046$55,028$189,400$174 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85009 73%1,448$52,054$236,100$230 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85031 72%1,449$70,412$294,800$214 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Bristol, PA 19007 71%680$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Hyattsville, MD 20784 71%601$86,509$369,900$275 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Essex, MD 21221 71%614$67,340$271,500$187 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Brooklyn, MD 21225 71%608$54,020$229,000$187 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Fitchburg, MA 01420 70%815$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06704 70%757$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 70%678$65,516$202,200$181 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32210 70%862$61,050$225,600$164 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55106 70%347$70,187$241,800$176 smaller · 13 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.