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 Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Pittsburgh: median income $63,086, home value $321,100, $226/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43206 91%166$75,806$317,300$193 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63143 90%569$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Louisville, KY 40204 89%347$71,116$329,000$220 5 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45213 88%256$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45227 87%254$71,646$298,800$224 larger · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 86%181$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43205 86%165$60,181$317,300$160 more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45212 86%257$72,422$257,700$183 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 85%257$80,833$300,500$259 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55104 85%740$75,712$317,700$207 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55407 85%744$78,464$335,400$228 larger
Omaha, NE 68132 85%842$68,221$333,900$193 newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70125 85%925$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78212 85%1,295$62,801$330,600$197 larger
Des Moines, IA 50311 84%722$61,957$226,500$202 cheaper homes ($95K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64110 84%785$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 84%1,326$61,768$456,100$318 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63109 83%568$69,938$264,700$201 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70118 83%926$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($145K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 83%1,018$60,205$301,900$199 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Covington, KY 41011 82%263$69,970$304,200$204 larger · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46205 82%332$72,417$304,500$135 larger
Memphis, TN 38104 81%662$58,117$317,200$167 larger · more renters
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 81%1,017$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bremerton, WA 98337 81%2,151$68,561$417,700$268 pricier homes ($97K more)

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.