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 New Haven, CT 06511

New Haven: median income $59,969, home value $353,000, $247/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44113 86%454$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63108 84%934$55,147$372,200$213 smaller
Rochester, NY 14607 83%270$59,787$350,100$171 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55408 83%1,053$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23220 82%355$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01605 76%89$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · newer homes
Burlington, VT 05401 76%219$65,657$492,100$360 pricier homes ($139K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43202 76%536$69,524$341,400$264 smaller · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45220 76%629$53,440$402,900$200 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68102 76%1,191$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01609 75%88$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70119 75%1,238$53,143$371,000$195 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 74%661$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64111 74%1,151$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21202 72%239$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44106 72%450$43,170$255,700$144 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55405 72%1,055$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Spokane, WA 99204 72%2,205$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60615 71%758$63,876$347,800$200 8 min longer commute · more homeowners · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 71%2,012$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($196K more) · smaller · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14620 70%270$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Savannah, GA 31401 70%782$52,509$552,400$346 pricier homes ($199K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35205 70%932$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45206 70%628$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14201 69%324$40,512$337,600$194 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.