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 60637

Chicago: median income $43,609, home value $257,300, $187/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridgeport, CT 06604 86%746$50,026$267,100$210 smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19121 85%661$38,516$266,700$156 newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19144 85%660$53,161$238,700$161 Very close on everything we compare
Philadelphia, PA 19104 80%660$38,814$266,600$187 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 78%745$56,179$335,500$277 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19131 78%658$48,393$178,500$137 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44106 77%310$43,170$255,700$144 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06105 76%767$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($145K more) · smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19143 75%658$43,244$177,000$148 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06106 74%767$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07104 74%700$53,978$388,800$219 pricier homes ($132K more) · older residents · newer homes
Orange, NJ 07050 73%697$52,563$364,500$306 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Newark, NJ 07112 73%699$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Wilmington, DE 19801 73%646$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20032 73%594$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($150K more) · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 73%90$47,298$216,300$145 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01605 72%811$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($135K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55404 72%359$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
New Haven, CT 06519 71%758$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 71%710$41,126$207,400$211 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 71%407$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21202 70%602$59,377$271,800$203 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48202 70%236$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Worcester, MA 01610 69%810$51,472$308,700$187 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07106 68%698$53,440$355,400$243 pricier homes ($98K more) · 5 min longer 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.