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 15233

Pittsburgh: median income $78,750, home value $352,000, $86/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63104 66%557$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45206 61%254$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74120 61%913$68,255$434,600$188 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14222 60%180$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63101 60%555$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($129K less) · more renters · more walkable
Columbus, OH 43205 59%158$60,181$317,300$160 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14209 58%180$50,046$429,400$157 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14216 57%182$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23517 57%320$67,375$386,600$214 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more renters
Spokane, WA 99204 56%1,902$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more renters
New Orleans, LA 70125 55%921$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74119 55%914$56,234$251,700$125 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older residents · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14214 54%182$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 54%732$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Albany, NY 12210 52%358$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · more renters
Memphis, TN 38104 52%656$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 51%196$82,828$284,500$219 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23507 51%320$104,295$555,200$223 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($203K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55405 51%741$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63110 51%559$81,655$339,900$208 larger · more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 51%1,010$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · more renters
Savage, MD 20763 50%193$76,842$419,200$234 pricier homes ($67K more) · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21231 50%200$85,254$350,100$226 larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Detroit, MI 48216 50%204$44,335$242,600$106 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63118 50%558$57,762$221,200$131 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · more single-family 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.