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 Buffalo, NY 14222

Buffalo: median income $81,652, home value $407,600, $217/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55405 94%731$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($60K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 88%455$75,256$434,500$282 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63110 87%665$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 86%177$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
West Hartford, CT 06119 85%324$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min longer commute
Northampton, MA 01060 83%320$76,848$453,400$344 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45209 83%389$93,420$400,700$289 more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 83%721$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($115K less) · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 83%860$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Worcester, MA 01609 82%361$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($36K more)
Norfolk, VA 23507 82%440$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($148K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43202 82%293$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($66K less) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 81%178$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70130 81%1,090$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($155K more) · older residents
Baltimore, MD 21231 80%277$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($58K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Cleveland, OH 44113 79%175$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($108K less) · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45206 79%392$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63104 79%663$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 78%181$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($156K less) · more walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 78%178$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($161K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45202 78%394$95,633$443,600$278 pricier homes ($36K more) · more renters · more walkable
Portland, ME 04102 77%435$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($96K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
New Haven, CT 06515 77%322$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($79K less) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23220 77%378$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63108 77%664$55,147$372,200$213 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · more renters

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.