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 Schenectady, NY 12305

Schenectady: median income $53,326, home value $217,500, $213/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, AL 35203 78%947$47,434$334,000$274 pricier homes ($117K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Lafayette, IN 47901 78%688$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55101 78%963$64,863$260,400$210 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Harrisburg, PA 17102 75%233$54,573$193,700$118 more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63103 75%898$40,943$202,900$124 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21202 74%280$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
New Haven, CT 06519 71%117$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45206 71%606$62,648$271,700$213 pricier homes ($54K more) · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63101 71%897$66,678$223,200$181 smaller · more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68102 71%1,131$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($172K more) · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99204 71%2,114$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($180K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21201 70%281$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64106 70%1,103$52,564$238,000$173 larger · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 69%229$52,810$199,900$143 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44113 69%408$71,941$299,400$252 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06105 68%96$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($185K more) · larger
Omaha, NE 68131 68%1,132$48,925$227,200$161 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99201 68%2,114$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44106 67%403$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63102 67%897$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06511 66%116$59,969$353,000$247 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23219 66%408$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($163K more) · smaller
Detroit, MI 48202 66%466$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06106 65%97$46,304$214,200$187 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 65%352$34,897$214,800$211 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer 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.