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 21202

Baltimore: median income $59,377, home value $271,800, $203/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55403 91%938$60,873$298,500$215 pricier homes ($27K more)
Kansas City, MO 64106 87%960$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Paul, MN 55101 86%928$64,863$260,400$210 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77063 84%1,260$59,113$290,300$170 larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 81%937$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77057 81%1,258$66,971$309,400$179 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60612 79%608$60,922$364,600$292 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Wilmington, DE 19801 78%64$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55404 78%937$41,940$291,600$223 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23510 77%170$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75254 77%1,207$67,216$287,300$217 less walkable · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48207 76%396$47,831$211,600$123 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Omaha, NE 68102 76%1,026$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60615 75%602$63,876$347,800$200 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Schenectady, NY 12305 74%280$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53202 74%641$71,034$340,800$278 pricier homes ($69K more)
Omaha, NE 68131 74%1,027$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Bridgeport, CT 06605 73%221$56,179$335,500$277 pricier homes ($64K more) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
New Haven, CT 06511 72%239$59,969$353,000$247 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older homes
Denver, CO 80247 72%1,501$64,498$318,400$223 pricier homes ($47K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01605 71%326$54,642$392,100$270 pricier homes ($120K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Albany, NY 12210 71%275$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75240 71%1,206$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($123K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Sacramento, CA 95825 71%2,383$64,602$440,200$292 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Albany, NY 12204 70%278$74,841$244,800$211 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 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.