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 23227

Richmond: median income $69,187, home value $364,900, $242/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, MT 59601 91%1,861$72,290$386,500$256 5 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74105 91%1,028$69,547$337,100$210 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80904 91%1,485$69,814$440,000$264 pricier homes ($75K more)
Metairie, LA 70001 90%900$67,923$339,400$197 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Easthampton, MA 01027 89%408$74,146$375,700$310 Very close on everything we compare
West Springfield, MA 01089 88%401$69,371$321,500$249 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Brattleboro, VT 05301 88%442$65,910$270,900$220 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32207 87%561$65,234$307,200$226 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53228 87%669$75,033$272,000$216 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Madison, WI 53714 87%730$71,519$306,900$258 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more walkable
New Orleans, LA 70123 87%904$83,585$348,100$187 Very close on everything we compare
Albuquerque, NM 87109 87%1,623$58,900$325,800$216 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Greenville, SC 29615 86%332$76,117$377,500$212 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Huntsville, AL 35802 86%548$76,324$334,100$170 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55118 86%954$87,340$350,600$205 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70002 86%899$65,436$381,800$161 younger residents
Hershey, PA 17033 85%187$72,945$384,100$198 smaller · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32217 85%564$73,832$325,100$189 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Waukesha, WI 53186 85%678$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Metairie, LA 70005 85%898$89,194$430,200$249 pricier homes ($65K more)
Tucson, AZ 85704 85%1,924$81,696$423,900$232 pricier homes ($59K more) · newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87107 85%1,627$61,672$311,800$264 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Concord, NH 03301 84%496$86,840$371,300$268 Very close on everything we compare
Montpelier, VT 05602 84%524$81,320$360,000$259 smaller
Asheville, NC 28805 84%313$75,151$412,500$281 pricier homes ($48K 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.