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 60643

Chicago: median income $80,852, home value $249,300, $179/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15227 87%411$75,448$185,100$163 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21214 87%605$86,366$259,500$180 smaller · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15236 83%411$90,767$233,400$194 9 min shorter commute
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865 80%653$79,949$267,200$241 6 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15226 79%408$73,321$182,900$161 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Clairton, PA 15025 75%414$76,531$227,800$187 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 75%409$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Deptford, NJ 08096 74%676$89,013$269,000$222 10 min shorter commute · newer homes
Racine, WI 53402 74%74$75,751$230,800$190 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Willingboro, NJ 08046 73%677$98,178$269,900$209 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pitman, NJ 08071 73%670$100,085$282,400$243 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15235 73%417$67,240$151,800$153 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63123 73%259$77,055$219,400$193 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 12 min shorter commute · less walkable
Beaver, PA 15009 72%387$88,294$261,000$187 smaller · 12 min shorter commute · less walkable
Bangor, PA 18013 72%651$78,847$259,600$195 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Merchantville, NJ 08109 71%670$90,242$252,000$222 smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Tonawanda, NY 14150 71%458$71,406$200,700$205 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 13 min shorter commute
Beaver Falls, PA 15010 71%385$71,200$192,900$156 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Carnegie, PA 15106 71%404$77,247$194,800$180 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 12 min shorter commute
Emmaus, PA 18049 71%638$93,694$315,700$208 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Wilmington, DE 19804 71%645$79,701$264,100$219 smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Warwick, RI 02889 70%838$83,946$336,000$297 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Monaca, PA 15061 70%390$73,010$209,800$194 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Camp Hill, PA 17011 70%569$92,556$277,800$178 pricier homes ($29K more) · 13 min shorter commute · newer homes
Saint Petersburg, FL 33713 70%1,001$74,707$323,000$342 pricier homes ($74K more) · 10 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.