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.

Reset

Towns most like Burlington, VT 05401

Burlington: median income $65,657, home value $492,100, $360/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23220 95%527$61,381$473,100$318 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55405 85%984$73,053$467,700$244 smaller · older residents
Savannah, GA 31401 84%957$52,509$552,400$346 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Worcester, MA 01609 83%167$68,381$444,000$267 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Columbus, OH 43202 83%588$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53211 83%737$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 80%1,963$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06511 76%219$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14222 76%303$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · older residents
Charleston, SC 29403 75%885$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($182K more) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44113 75%476$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45220 75%688$53,440$402,900$200 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63108 75%966$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 74%441$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64111 74%1,159$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($205K less) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43212 73%590$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents · newer homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 73%549$64,231$491,200$393 newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70118 73%1,363$63,750$465,600$253 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55408 72%983$70,326$396,100$214 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46202 71%737$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, ME 04101 70%158$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · older residents
New Haven, CT 06515 70%218$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 70%439$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($175K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35205 68%1,050$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($198K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45202 68%689$95,633$443,600$278 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less) · 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.