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 15217

Pittsburgh: median income $95,668, home value $455,100, $281/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23221 88%238$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53213 88%454$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Providence, RI 02906 87%454$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($184K more)
New Orleans, LA 70115 87%924$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($188K more)
West Hartford, CT 06119 86%386$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63117 86%568$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55105 85%740$107,248$470,100$273 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55409 84%745$98,305$378,600$267 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Portland, ME 04102 83%542$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($48K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55108 83%742$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · newer homes
Northampton, MA 01060 82%400$76,848$453,400$344 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45209 82%255$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45226 82%256$97,558$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63110 81%565$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Norfolk, VA 23507 80%314$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Milwaukee, WI 53211 80%449$75,256$434,500$282 younger residents · more renters
Evanston, IL 60201 79%419$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · newer homes
Collingswood, NJ 08108 78%259$108,151$395,300$332 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Columbus, OH 43214 78%165$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45208 78%256$137,600$547,200$299 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($92K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63144 78%569$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97217 78%2,164$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($124K more) · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 77%190$112,428$547,300$256 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · younger residents
Madison, WI 53705 77%524$88,549$475,400$340 newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55116 77%740$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 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.