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.

Reset

Towns most like Baltimore, MD 21231

Baltimore: median income $85,254, home value $350,100, $226/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45202 88%424$95,633$443,600$278 pricier homes ($94K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44113 81%309$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 80%277$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 79%940$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($118K more) · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 78%1,001$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($213K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Philadelphia, PA 19107 76%89$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($109K more) · more renters
Philadelphia, PA 19129 75%90$80,606$323,600$274 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55408 75%938$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19146 74%87$103,059$461,000$340 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55102 73%931$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60615 73%603$63,876$347,800$200 larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 72%196$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 72%423$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63108 72%735$55,147$372,200$213 lower income ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 71%196$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($104K less) · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14607 70%272$59,787$350,100$171 lower income ($25K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 70%194$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53202 70%642$71,034$340,800$278 larger · more renters · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53211 70%643$75,256$434,500$282 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19125 69%91$109,554$392,400$287 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64111 69%963$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 67%265$99,688$378,400$281 pricier homes ($28K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19127 67%89$102,106$352,500$239 smaller · 12 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63104 67%733$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 66%195$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($204K more) · newer 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.