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 Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Pittsburgh: median income $31,069, home value $233,500, $205/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gainesville, FL 32601 84%758$30,352$284,300$254 pricier homes ($51K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45219 78%259$35,657$207,900$164 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13210 73%266$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · older residents
Urbana, IL 61801 72%435$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Champaign, IL 61820 69%437$27,539$184,500$153 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43201 67%164$43,731$440,000$272 pricier homes ($207K more) · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29201 65%449$32,297$255,800$213 newer homes
Denton, TX 76201 65%1,070$39,982$257,700$188 more single-family homes · newer homes
Madison, WI 53715 64%519$38,996$450,600$356 pricier homes ($217K more) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40508 62%294$29,440$182,800$240 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68131 62%837$48,925$227,200$161 smaller · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85719 61%1,805$42,241$304,300$266 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Birmingham, AL 35205 59%611$51,158$293,800$235 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44106 59%113$43,170$255,700$144 older residents · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 56%743$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44115 54%115$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · older residents
Lincoln, NE 68508 54%877$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63103 52%561$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Baltimore, MD 21201 51%194$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Tallahassee, FL 32301 51%733$50,942$226,700$188 older residents · newer homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 51%759$45,987$321,900$180 pricier homes ($88K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Bloomington, IN 47408 50%356$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($113K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Duluth, MN 55805 50%748$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14201 49%178$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26505 49%55$45,536$278,000$170 pricier homes ($45K more) · 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.