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 60645

Chicago: median income $76,045, home value $328,200, $224/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Drexel Hill, PA 19026 88%661$89,234$271,100$201 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19128 88%664$93,173$353,500$256 pricier homes ($25K more)
Baltimore, MD 21224 85%613$89,017$295,200$207 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19145 84%668$71,965$306,200$243 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Lowell, MA 01852 83%837$80,906$424,300$328 pricier homes ($96K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19115 83%672$70,054$345,000$250 older residents · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01604 82%815$73,505$352,500$271 7 min shorter commute
Bethlehem, PA 18018 80%645$75,417$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19148 80%669$82,605$307,000$251 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Clifton Heights, PA 19018 79%663$73,522$225,100$202 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19116 79%672$67,535$346,600$249 older residents · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19129 79%666$80,606$323,600$274 smaller
Norristown, PA 19401 79%656$69,908$234,000$201 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Hyattsville, MD 20782 79%601$90,205$454,700$256 pricier homes ($127K more)
Haverhill, MA 01830 78%848$78,571$467,000$311 pricier homes ($139K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Providence, RI 02904 78%834$67,003$339,900$249 newer homes
Peekskill, NY 10566 78%712$85,954$395,600$330 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19119 78%665$92,651$371,300$245 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · older homes
Claymont, DE 19703 78%656$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21212 78%608$96,685$373,700$254 pricier homes ($46K more) · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21218 78%609$62,488$242,500$161 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older homes
Providence, RI 02908 77%835$73,081$324,100$240 6 min shorter commute
Kearny, NJ 07032 77%707$79,154$459,400$364 pricier homes ($131K more)
Mount Vernon, NY 10552 77%721$96,717$363,100$337 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents
Easton, PA 18042 77%653$77,556$230,200$186 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older 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.