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.

Reset

Towns most like Schenectady, NY 12307

Schenectady: median income $24,758, home value $104,600, $122/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45232 81%605$28,367$130,500$87 pricier homes ($26K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53205 80%708$31,529$124,200$96 more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45214 78%609$27,852$100,500$93 older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45204 76%611$31,236$95,400$121 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45225 73%608$20,348$103,100$66 more renters · less walkable
Camden, NJ 08102 72%206$33,852$84,500$80 older residents
Cleveland, OH 44104 72%404$24,111$69,300$69 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Camden, NJ 08104 69%208$38,170$93,100$158 larger · older residents
Springfield, MA 01105 67%85$24,036$217,800$136 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · older homes
Hartford, CT 06120 67%95$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · more renters
Chattanooga, TN 37410 66%814$28,708$153,400$174 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78226 66%1,648$33,398$107,100$138 older residents · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Camden, NJ 08103 65%207$36,793$138,000$130 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53233 65%708$23,750$137,500$146 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55454 65%971$23,100$186,600$127 pricier homes ($82K more) · more renters · newer homes
Reading, PA 19602 63%199$34,582$96,000$121 larger · less walkable · older homes
Louisville, KY 40203 63%696$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older residents
Toledo, OH 43604 62%497$20,734$64,800$175 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Augusta, GA 30901 61%779$25,163$104,000$109 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38126 61%1,012$30,071$59,300$122 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Springfield, MO 65806 60%1,092$28,165$88,600$138 larger · 10 min shorter commute · more renters
San Antonio, TX 78208 60%1,641$26,595$146,600$187 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
North Little Rock, AR 72114 58%1,129$30,175$130,000$85 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Fresno, CA 93701 58%2,440$32,768$246,400$172 pricier homes ($142K more) · older residents
Akron, OH 44307 57%409$27,697$85,500$95 older residents · more single-family homes · less walkable

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.