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 Albany, NY 12205

Albany: median income $91,020, home value $276,600, $245/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newington, CT 06111 92%91$102,884$310,400$251 pricier homes ($34K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55422 92%983$93,914$325,900$199 pricier homes ($49K more)
New Haven, CT 06512 91%108$96,146$289,100$286 6 min longer commute
Urbandale, IA 50322 91%1,020$92,085$276,200$202 newer homes
Warwick, RI 02886 89%140$92,047$366,400$285 pricier homes ($90K more)
Johnston, RI 02919 89%133$91,775$355,800$267 pricier homes ($79K more) · 5 min longer commute
Deptford, NJ 08096 89%214$89,013$269,000$222 7 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 89%353$85,542$233,900$199 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Erie, PA 16506 89%326$81,060$237,300$201 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Camp Hill, PA 17011 89%235$92,556$277,800$178 larger
Bethlehem, PA 18017 89%164$91,173$336,100$207 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53716 89%784$91,716$356,800$254 pricier homes ($80K more)
South Saint Paul, MN 55075 89%968$88,386$281,700$196 younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55431 89%981$101,484$373,500$207 pricier homes ($97K more)
North Bend, OR 97459 89%2,504$82,035$372,700$246 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller
Barre, VT 05641 88%122$76,855$253,200$203 smaller
New Cumberland, PA 17070 88%234$88,000$253,700$163 smaller
Dayton, OH 45429 88%577$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Greendale, WI 53129 88%718$95,012$311,800$231 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55420 88%979$82,170$328,400$207 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents
Omaha, NE 68144 88%1,147$83,576$269,600$171 Very close on everything we compare
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 87%81$81,205$258,800$226 smaller
Oakville, CT 06779 87%87$95,798$277,000$256 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Beaver, PA 15009 87%364$88,294$261,000$187 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 87%355$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.