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 60653

Chicago: median income $40,666, home value $361,000, $197/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newark, NJ 07104 82%701$53,978$388,800$219 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Washington, DC 20032 81%595$49,139$407,700$215 pricier homes ($47K more)
Bridgeport, CT 06604 79%746$50,026$267,100$210 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older homes
Dania, FL 33004 79%1,170$52,574$342,400$258 smaller
Newark, NJ 07108 78%700$36,200$399,400$192 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75243 78%792$53,618$386,100$172 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33613 77%993$44,032$272,700$233 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Houston, TX 77042 76%945$59,097$411,800$202 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19121 75%661$38,516$266,700$156 cheaper homes ($94K less) · younger residents
Washington, DC 20020 75%596$54,032$456,000$244 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bridgeport, CT 06605 74%746$56,179$335,500$277 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Orange, NJ 07050 74%698$52,563$364,500$306 older homes
Newark, NJ 07103 74%700$51,534$318,800$235 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Miami, FL 33125 74%1,185$44,979$423,100$324 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 74%357$41,940$291,600$223 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Newark, NJ 07112 73%699$58,200$336,500$193 older homes
Miami, FL 33181 73%1,179$63,275$352,500$295 smaller
Las Vegas, NV 89169 73%1,523$40,904$315,100$213 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77063 72%944$59,113$290,300$170 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Las Vegas, NV 89119 72%1,523$46,960$328,100$219 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06105 71%767$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 71%711$41,126$207,400$211 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32839 71%985$47,313$280,700$191 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33135 71%1,186$40,567$418,500$381 pricier homes ($58K more)
Kissimmee, FL 34741 71%996$52,409$306,400$190 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · more single-family 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.