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 15219

Pittsburgh: median income $34,897, home value $214,800, $211/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55404 85%742$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 78%303$41,126$207,400$211 larger
Baltimore, MD 21201 78%195$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40203 77%344$30,794$197,300$145 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Omaha, NE 68131 76%836$48,925$227,200$161 5 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70113 76%922$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($91K more) · older residents · older homes
Albany, NY 12206 73%356$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 73%268$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14201 73%179$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($123K more) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Detroit, MI 48207 73%206$47,831$211,600$123 larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64106 73%779$52,564$238,000$173 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, DE 19801 72%239$52,810$199,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40202 72%343$35,584$257,300$258 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43203 72%161$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($105K more) · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63103 72%559$40,943$202,900$124 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87102 72%1,497$42,990$197,300$230 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01608 71%442$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more renters
Hartford, CT 06105 71%390$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($188K more) · larger · older homes
Chicago, IL 60637 71%407$43,609$257,300$187 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45219 70%257$35,657$207,900$164 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Springfield, MA 01107 69%400$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($29K more) · 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Hartford, CT 06106 69%390$46,304$214,200$187 larger · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32202 69%705$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · older residents
Chicago, IL 60653 69%408$40,666$361,000$197 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 69%1,069$39,982$257,700$188 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · younger residents

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.