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 60655

Chicago: median income $114,723, home value $324,300, $257/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Abington, PA 19001 93%666$108,042$363,000$270 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Springfield, PA 19064 88%658$136,893$414,500$286 pricier homes ($90K more)
Riverton, NJ 08077 87%674$128,271$386,100$245 pricier homes ($62K more) · newer homes
Glenside, PA 19038 86%664$117,683$413,100$282 pricier homes ($89K more)
South Plainfield, NJ 07080 85%695$130,205$470,900$386 pricier homes ($147K more)
Broomall, PA 19008 85%656$119,698$500,300$274 pricier homes ($176K more)
Pitman, NJ 08071 84%672$100,085$282,400$243 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Stratford, CT 06614 83%754$110,943$374,800$293 pricier homes ($51K more) · older residents · less walkable
Havertown, PA 19083 83%658$124,523$452,100$315 pricier homes ($128K more)
Colonia, NJ 07067 82%700$122,713$493,100$393 pricier homes ($169K more) · smaller
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 82%675$114,012$372,200$275 pricier homes ($48K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Warwick, RI 02888 79%839$91,867$350,000$317 pricier homes ($26K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 79%697$124,454$442,400$348 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fords, NJ 08863 79%701$115,861$438,000$386 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · more renters
Wilmington, DE 19810 79%651$112,775$440,600$239 pricier homes ($116K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Bowie, MD 20715 79%606$143,732$452,600$257 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($128K more) · less walkable
Wethersfield, CT 06109 78%774$126,806$324,600$262 10 min shorter commute
Northfield, NJ 08225 78%708$111,599$316,200$285 smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15236 78%413$90,767$233,400$194 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Hatboro, PA 19040 78%665$114,293$384,900$285 pricier homes ($61K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Feasterville Trevose, PA 19053 78%672$107,780$413,100$267 pricier homes ($89K more) · newer homes
Levittown, PA 19056 78%677$111,594$378,400$237 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · more renters
Duluth, MN 55804 78%415$111,228$315,300$228 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Dumont, NJ 07628 77%713$126,071$497,400$420 pricier homes ($173K more) · smaller
Keyport, NJ 07735 77%708$97,536$406,000$382 pricier homes ($82K more) · more renters

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.