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 12210

Albany: median income $55,843, home value $228,100, $142/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harrisburg, PA 17102 88%231$54,573$193,700$118 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Wilmington, DE 19801 78%222$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 77%610$62,648$271,700$213 pricier homes ($44K more) · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48202 77%475$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53212 74%716$47,298$216,300$145 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63103 74%905$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more walkable
Hartford, CT 06105 73%82$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
New Haven, CT 06519 73%103$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44106 73%410$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48207 73%472$47,831$211,600$123 larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63112 73%907$45,542$212,700$135 larger · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99204 73%2,127$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($170K more) · more single-family homes
Lafayette, IN 47901 72%696$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55101 72%974$64,863$260,400$210 pricier homes ($32K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63101 72%903$66,678$223,200$181 smaller · more walkable
Baltimore, MD 21202 71%275$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
New Orleans, LA 70113 70%1,260$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($78K more) · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99201 70%2,127$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wilmington, DE 19802 69%221$53,812$194,600$169 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35203 69%948$47,434$334,000$274 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53208 69%719$52,690$204,500$125 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63104 68%905$68,764$268,900$161 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more homeowners
New London, CT 06320 67%124$59,170$253,300$223 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68131 67%1,142$48,925$227,200$161 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06106 66%83$46,304$214,200$187 larger

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.