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 Hartford, CT 06103

Hartford: median income $71,677, home value $275,000, $256/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64105 85%1,164$67,235$251,400$251 larger · older homes
Manchester, NH 03101 76%105$84,434$429,300$238 pricier homes ($154K more)
Norfolk, VA 23510 75%391$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63102 74%947$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Richmond, VA 23219 73%386$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($106K more) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Detroit, MI 48226 72%533$64,860$324,500$492 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Paul, MN 55101 70%1,046$64,863$260,400$210 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Omaha, NE 68102 69%1,201$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53202 68%780$71,034$340,800$278 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more homeowners
Wichita, KS 67202 68%1,335$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($132K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55403 67%1,055$60,873$298,500$215 larger · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21202 61%268$59,377$271,800$203 larger · more homeowners
Des Moines, IA 50309 61%1,078$56,777$292,500$213 larger · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64106 61%1,163$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 60%1,687$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02903 58%65$64,476$408,900$475 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19107 57%181$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($184K more) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55408 57%1,055$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01608 56%56$45,687$153,600$252 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21201 56%269$45,640$275,300$178 lower income ($26K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55114 56%1,051$62,766$319,800$230 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Oak Park, IL 60301 56%778$99,167$247,000$264 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($28K less) · 10 min longer commute
Schaumburg, IL 60195 55%793$90,174$319,300$243 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14202 54%326$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($204K more) · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46202 54%718$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.