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 23221

Richmond: median income $99,816, home value $582,000, $405/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Providence, RI 02906 90%438$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 88%238$95,668$455,100$281 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63105 86%702$116,439$766,300$345 pricier homes ($184K more) · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70115 86%895$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Portland, ME 04102 85%565$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Northampton, MA 01060 81%418$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45209 81%392$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($181K less) · more renters
Evanston, IL 60201 80%624$90,545$590,700$370 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64112 80%932$100,736$410,800$265 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · newer homes
Austin, TX 78722 80%1,261$105,046$678,300$453 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 79%132$112,428$547,300$256 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min longer commute
West Hartford, CT 06119 78%385$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($204K less) · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30306 78%465$123,077$799,800$389 pricier homes ($218K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53705 78%736$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45226 77%391$97,558$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84103 76%1,844$83,916$779,200$375 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63117 75%702$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($233K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 75%1,843$99,562$686,100$374 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45208 74%392$137,600$547,200$299 higher income ($38K more) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 73%241$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($289K less)
Ardmore, PA 19003 73%206$119,861$448,500$329 cheaper homes ($134K less) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55105 73%958$107,248$470,100$273 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55108 73%960$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($206K less) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80206 73%1,484$101,594$915,400$427 pricier homes ($333K more) · larger · newer homes
Denver, CO 80220 73%1,482$106,054$805,400$382 pricier homes ($223K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.