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 60649

Chicago: median income $44,175, home value $213,200, $84/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21217 90%598$38,409$180,100$92 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19139 72%656$40,947$133,900$126 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19131 70%656$48,393$178,500$137 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19144 70%658$53,161$238,700$161 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19143 68%656$43,244$177,000$148 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21216 68%596$42,031$147,800$112 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21223 68%598$45,840$110,600$58 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19141 66%659$43,998$164,000$145 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bridgeport, CT 06604 65%744$50,026$267,100$210 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Bronx, NY 10452 63%711$41,288$197,100$120 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21213 63%601$51,344$155,000$114 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Darby, PA 19023 60%655$46,463$153,300$141 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21215 60%595$51,587$201,200$132 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bridgeport, CT 06608 59%745$45,754$235,800$175 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07112 59%697$58,200$336,500$193 pricier homes ($123K more) · smaller · younger residents
Camden, NJ 08103 59%663$36,793$138,000$130 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19142 59%657$38,376$121,100$133 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · younger residents
Wilmington, DE 19801 58%644$52,810$199,900$143 smaller · younger residents · 12 min shorter commute
Waterbury, CT 06710 57%749$37,191$228,300$154 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08611 57%677$56,788$160,500$181 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · younger residents
Allentown, PA 18102 57%633$43,085$163,400$147 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 11 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06114 56%767$52,110$232,800$158 smaller · younger residents · 13 min shorter commute
Upper Darby, PA 19082 56%654$57,108$169,900$172 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Philadelphia, PA 19121 55%659$38,516$266,700$156 pricier homes ($54K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21205 55%601$43,176$96,100$131 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.