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 15232

Pittsburgh: median income $66,582, home value $553,700, $292/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43212 85%167$77,257$533,700$336 larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80203 78%1,321$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 77%1,320$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46202 76%332$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · newer homes
Burlington, VT 05401 74%441$65,657$492,100$360 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53202 74%448$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($213K less) · larger · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23220 72%241$61,381$473,100$318 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55405 72%746$73,053$467,700$244 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53211 71%448$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 71%1,666$52,199$548,700$364 larger
Madison, WI 53726 70%521$47,754$647,300$341 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63108 70%564$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger · older homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 69%924$80,212$562,800$325 older residents · older homes
Portland, OR 97232 69%2,161$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($228K more) · older residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 68%179$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($146K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45202 68%260$95,633$443,600$278 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 68%233$64,231$491,200$393 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55408 67%745$70,326$396,100$214 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64105 67%783$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($302K less) · smaller · more renters
Kansas City, MO 64111 67%784$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($267K less)
Baltimore, MD 21231 66%195$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($204K less) · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45209 66%255$93,420$400,700$289 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($153K less) · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97210 65%2,164$93,621$991,200$376 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($438K more) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43202 64%165$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($212K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 64%1,015$54,561$441,500$221 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · older 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.