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 23220

Richmond: median income $61,381, home value $473,100, $318/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, VT 05401 95%527$65,657$492,100$360 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31401 89%431$52,509$552,400$346 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Worcester, MA 01609 88%442$68,381$444,000$267 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55405 88%967$73,053$467,700$244 smaller
Columbus, OH 43202 86%344$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 86%1,845$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06511 82%355$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53211 82%669$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63108 82%699$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44113 81%353$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64111 81%933$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($186K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55408 80%966$70,326$396,100$214 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46202 79%494$63,506$439,200$222 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35205 78%595$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45220 78%398$53,440$402,900$200 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · less walkable
New Orleans, LA 70118 78%896$63,750$465,600$253 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 77%378$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 77%241$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($156K less) · older residents
New Haven, CT 06515 75%354$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller
Charleston, SC 29403 75%357$66,944$674,000$586 pricier homes ($201K more) · smaller · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43212 74%345$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($61K more) · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70119 74%893$53,143$371,000$195 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 74%1,483$61,768$456,100$318 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70125 73%895$61,174$429,200$177 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 72%241$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller

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.