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 60634

Chicago: median income $88,533, home value $353,900, $271/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 82%861$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 80%662$79,949$267,200$241 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33023 80%1,184$74,709$380,000$342 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Freeport, NY 11520 79%743$121,748$506,100$406 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 79%611$76,466$341,000$250 smaller · newer homes
Hyattsville, MD 20784 78%609$86,509$369,900$275 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Randolph, MA 02368 77%858$109,665$496,800$346 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hillside, NJ 07205 77%709$99,528$397,400$353 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · younger residents
Stratford, CT 06615 76%759$81,534$364,700$306 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Keyport, NJ 07735 76%714$97,536$406,000$382 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lanham, MD 20706 76%611$104,523$429,000$242 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller · newer homes
Tacoma, WA 98404 76%1,727$82,191$413,900$318 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · younger residents
Warwick, RI 02889 75%844$83,946$336,000$297 smaller · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Roselle, NJ 07203 75%708$92,762$379,900$350 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more renters
South Amboy, NJ 08879 75%710$92,786$389,800$360 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hollywood, FL 33024 74%1,181$80,061$409,400$349 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Miami, FL 33165 74%1,198$85,200$519,700$405 pricier homes ($166K more) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80221 74%908$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($119K more) · smaller · younger residents
Tacoma, WA 98408 74%1,728$80,899$410,500$320 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Pawtucket, RI 02861 73%845$83,411$315,400$252 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Union, NJ 07083 73%707$121,887$455,300$392 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($101K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Belleville, NJ 07109 73%711$90,438$420,800$372 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · more renters
Deptford, NJ 08096 73%686$89,013$269,000$222 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
South River, NJ 08882 73%705$96,147$405,200$331 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · younger residents
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 73%1,178$75,952$423,300$350 pricier homes ($69K more) · 8 min shorter commute · 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.