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 60657

Chicago: median income $110,939, home value $537,800, $428/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Philadelphia, PA 19130 89%665$112,037$491,800$347 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Washington, DC 20002 80%598$120,337$826,400$494 pricier homes ($289K more)
Silver Spring, MD 20910 80%594$112,134$730,900$364 pricier homes ($193K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19103 78%665$99,644$582,500$477 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20024 77%598$107,411$526,700$367 smaller
Brighton, MA 02135 75%844$90,829$681,200$631 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller · more renters
Arlington, VA 22206 74%595$140,877$586,000$431 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Washington, DC 20005 72%596$116,724$640,600$605 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20008 70%594$125,212$965,100$596 pricier homes ($427K more) · smaller · older residents
Rockville, MD 20852 69%588$122,472$665,200$359 pricier homes ($127K more) · older residents · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19146 68%665$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20009 68%596$146,664$722,500$636 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($185K more) · older homes
Washington, DC 20001 66%597$138,059$852,600$552 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($315K more) · smaller
Fairfax, VA 22031 66%586$134,577$723,600$356 pricier homes ($186K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 65%847$131,551$822,300$642 pricier homes ($285K more) · smaller · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19106 65%666$121,047$517,900$407 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19147 64%666$105,755$530,900$366 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Arlington, VA 22204 64%594$107,941$688,000$418 pricier homes ($150K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Emeryville, CA 94608 64%1,845$120,239$849,600$508 pricier homes ($312K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Seattle, WA 98102 64%1,730$114,925$963,200$617 pricier homes ($425K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Highland Park, NJ 08904 63%694$104,694$471,700$342 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Washington, DC 20010 63%595$114,126$886,600$471 pricier homes ($349K more) · smaller · older homes
Watertown, MA 02472 62%843$126,336$784,600$507 pricier homes ($247K more) · smaller · older residents
Conshohocken, PA 19428 62%656$122,835$478,500$315 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Arlington, VA 22201 62%594$145,000$781,600$625 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($244K more) · smaller

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.