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 Baltimore, MD 21201

Baltimore: median income $45,640, home value $275,300, $178/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64106 90%959$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55404 87%936$41,940$291,600$223 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 78%195$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55403 78%937$60,873$298,500$215 more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63103 78%731$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older homes
Detroit, MI 48207 77%396$47,831$211,600$123 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55101 75%928$64,863$260,400$210 smaller
Houston, TX 77063 75%1,258$59,113$290,300$170 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68131 74%1,026$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Worcester, MA 01608 73%325$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19104 72%89$38,814$266,600$187 larger · younger residents · older homes
Hartford, CT 06105 70%268$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($127K more) · less walkable · older homes
Schenectady, NY 12305 70%281$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · older homes
Wilmington, DE 19801 70%65$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60637 67%601$43,609$257,300$187 larger · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63102 67%729$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Little Rock, AR 72202 67%918$50,899$262,500$149 smaller · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78229 67%1,417$46,574$228,900$135 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · less walkable
Newark, NJ 07102 66%163$38,864$431,500$294 pricier homes ($156K more) · 11 min longer commute
Allentown, PA 18101 66%109$44,773$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40202 66%496$35,584$257,300$258 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60653 66%602$40,666$361,000$197 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75240 66%1,205$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($120K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23510 65%170$73,524$385,700$246 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68102 64%1,025$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · older 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.