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 Richmond, VA 23219

Richmond: median income $57,507, home value $380,700, $361/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68102 88%1,018$64,111$389,400$329 larger
Detroit, MI 48226 83%444$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · newer homes
Wichita, KS 67202 82%1,087$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14202 81%377$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($98K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02903 78%435$64,476$408,900$475 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64105 78%935$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14604 77%388$52,105$784,700— pricier homes ($404K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19107 77%206$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06103 73%386$71,677$275,000$256 cheaper homes ($106K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Portland, OR 97205 72%2,371$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($256K more) · larger · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37902 71%375$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($307K more) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 71%958$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · older residents
Portland, ME 04101 68%565$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($237K more) · larger · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14607 68%387$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 67%1,846$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($168K more) · larger · more homeowners
Schenectady, NY 12305 66%408$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63108 66%700$55,147$372,200$213 larger · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44113 65%354$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53202 64%669$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more homeowners
Lafayette, IN 47901 63%545$47,206$256,500$144 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55403 62%967$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tucson, AZ 85701 62%1,925$51,794$492,100$338 pricier homes ($111K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 61%241$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($173K more) · larger · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35203 61%595$47,434$334,000$274 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 61%1,488$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.