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 New Haven, CT 06510

New Haven: median income $58,913, home value $651,800, $389/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raleigh, NC 27605 67%491$71,096$540,000$389 cheaper homes ($112K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Knoxville, TN 37902 65%698$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Madison, WI 53703 64%850$47,847$471,800$436 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 59%371$66,582$553,700$292 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97201 59%2,474$63,250$673,600$303 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35233 58%931$60,336$338,600$353 cheaper homes ($313K less) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23219 57%354$57,507$380,700$361 cheaper homes ($271K less) · older residents · older homes
Columbus, OH 43215 57%536$74,087$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80246 57%1,675$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 56%374$114,167$610,200$344 higher income ($55K more) · cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Rochester, NY 14604 55%271$52,105$784,700— pricier homes ($133K more) · older homes
Denver, CO 80203 55%1,678$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37403 54%798$81,136$525,200$292 cheaper homes ($127K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Des Moines, IA 50309 54%1,069$56,777$292,500$213 cheaper homes ($359K less) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55414 54%1,051$51,966$440,500$233 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73104 54%1,385$66,042$408,100$255 cheaper homes ($244K less) · newer homes
Portland, OR 97205 54%2,474$57,288$637,100$387 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 53%2,012$52,199$548,700$364 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48226 52%526$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($327K less) · older residents · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 52%1,150$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($400K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Sacramento, CA 95811 52%2,546$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30346 51%805$95,000$595,900$323 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53202 51%775$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($311K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, WI 53715 51%851$38,996$450,600$356 cheaper homes ($201K less) · larger · younger residents
Madison, WI 53726 51%852$47,754$647,300$341 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older 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.