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 60638

Chicago: median income $91,070, home value $299,100, $252/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brockton, MA 02302 84%861$92,274$424,800$366 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller
Willingboro, NJ 08046 84%683$98,178$269,900$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Tacoma, WA 98404 83%1,733$82,191$413,900$318 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · newer homes
Warwick, RI 02889 82%843$83,946$336,000$297 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · older residents
Deptford, NJ 08096 82%682$89,013$269,000$222 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 82%659$79,949$267,200$241 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · less walkable
Hollywood, FL 33023 82%1,173$74,709$380,000$342 pricier homes ($81K more) · more renters
Merchantville, NJ 08109 81%676$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80221 81%909$86,810$472,900$272 pricier homes ($174K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Tacoma, WA 98408 80%1,734$80,899$410,500$320 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Levittown, PA 19057 79%682$93,738$328,000$263 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19804 79%651$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Lanham, MD 20706 79%606$104,523$429,000$242 pricier homes ($130K more) · newer homes
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 78%675$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
South River, NJ 08882 78%702$96,147$405,200$331 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · more renters
Capitol Heights, MD 20743 78%606$76,466$341,000$250 pricier homes ($42K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Keyport, NJ 07735 77%712$97,536$406,000$382 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
Trenton, NJ 08610 77%689$83,906$264,600$282 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Warwick, RI 02888 76%842$91,867$350,000$317 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · older residents
Hillside, NJ 07205 76%707$99,528$397,400$353 pricier homes ($98K more) · smaller · more renters
Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 76%676$107,780$413,100$267 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · older residents
Levittown, PA 19055 76%683$92,476$315,600$274 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Levittown, PA 19056 76%681$111,594$378,400$237 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Stockton, CA 95204 76%1,786$75,548$387,100$285 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Westfield, MA 01085 75%771$88,728$326,100$240 pricier homes ($27K more) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.