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 60632

Chicago: median income $64,809, home value $252,600, $219/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dundalk, MD 21222 86%614$64,141$215,900$179 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06606 83%750$73,372$289,000$271 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19805 82%650$60,221$237,100$204 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21206 82%610$64,531$216,100$166 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 82%609$54,020$229,000$187 smaller
Fitchburg, MA 01420 81%815$72,780$335,300$246 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Easton, PA 18042 81%653$77,556$230,200$186 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Bristol, PA 19007 81%680$65,511$290,300$256 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Clifton Heights, PA 19018 77%661$73,522$225,100$202 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · newer homes
Waterbury, CT 06708 76%755$67,364$218,500$202 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19111 76%669$61,138$253,700$218 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Gwynn Oak, MD 21207 76%600$67,060$260,300$187 smaller · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21229 76%604$60,047$201,300$147 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Brockton, MA 02301 74%855$74,214$449,400$321 pricier homes ($197K more) · newer homes
Providence, RI 02905 74%839$62,908$371,900$258 pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller
Providence, RI 02908 74%836$73,081$324,100$240 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Norwich, CT 06360 74%805$65,539$245,700$203 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bridgeport, CT 06610 74%752$51,634$228,300$219 smaller · older residents
Waterbury, CT 06704 74%756$48,718$192,000$205 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more renters
Essex, MD 21221 74%615$67,340$271,500$187 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01603 73%814$66,049$331,300$257 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Woonsocket, RI 02895 73%831$61,059$311,000$228 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · more renters
Lansdowne, PA 19050 73%662$60,859$201,900$166 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75211 73%805$56,807$219,300$207 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Gardner, MA 01440 72%805$67,440$303,500$232 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older 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.