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 Portland, ME 04102

Portland: median income $82,751, home value $503,500, $388/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70115 93%1,443$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Northampton, MA 01060 91%150$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Richmond, VA 23221 85%565$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($79K more)
Newport, RI 02840 84%159$86,250$746,900$643 pricier homes ($243K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 83%542$95,668$455,100$281 cheaper homes ($48K less)
West Hartford, CT 06119 82%180$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 6 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 80%542$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($210K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55116 80%1,131$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40204 79%887$71,116$329,000$220 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 79%883$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55405 78%1,138$73,053$467,700$244 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63110 78%1,093$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Buffalo, NY 14222 77%435$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70118 77%1,443$63,750$465,600$253 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · younger residents
Providence, RI 02906 76%138$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 76%540$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45209 76%795$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53213 76%889$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 76%1,442$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($59K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97214 76%2,533$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($268K more) · larger · more renters
Tacoma, WA 98403 76%2,493$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($326K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55108 75%1,131$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($128K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55409 75%1,137$98,305$378,600$267 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 75%2,115$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($276K more) · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 75%2,115$99,562$686,100$374 pricier homes ($183K more) · 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.