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 Norfolk, VA 23517

Norfolk: median income $67,375, home value $386,600, $214/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tulsa, OK 74120 90%1,092$68,255$434,600$188 pricier homes ($48K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45206 84%472$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · less walkable
Spokane, WA 99204 83%2,201$58,277$397,700$199 larger · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64111 81%1,006$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 80%317$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32204 80%549$65,063$375,000$246 larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 79%316$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44113 79%430$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 79%1,047$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 79%1,185$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($55K more) · less walkable · older homes
Memphis, TN 38104 78%775$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55413 78%1,045$85,282$371,600$249 larger · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14202 76%438$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($93K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, OH 43202 76%424$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55101 76%1,037$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 76%1,037$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70125 76%927$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more homeowners
Bridgeport, PA 19405 75%229$83,859$336,400$226 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43205 75%419$60,181$317,300$160 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older homes
Tucson, AZ 85701 75%1,988$51,794$492,100$338 pricier homes ($106K more) · 6 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63104 74%769$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14222 73%440$81,652$407,600$217 larger · less walkable · older homes
Winooski, VT 05404 72%551$79,522$381,500$280 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 72%316$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46202 72%571$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · younger residents

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.