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 Portsmouth, VA 23702

Portsmouth: median income $48,835, home value $208,000, $184/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55130 91%1,038$54,130$236,000$170 pricier homes ($28K more)
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 90%204$53,899$195,000$215 larger
Racine, WI 53404 90%734$50,428$129,800$172 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Dallas, TX 75215 89%1,190$45,557$190,100$172 larger · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76115 88%1,224$52,411$150,600$144 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Fresno, CA 93703 88%2,382$48,737$276,600$239 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Kenner, LA 70062 87%929$51,477$200,300$151 newer homes
Dallas, TX 75224 87%1,196$51,919$239,600$207 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77017 87%1,196$51,079$158,300$146 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77022 87%1,198$52,739$219,200$183 larger · older residents
Springfield, MA 01109 86%418$48,415$219,900$208 larger · older homes
North Chicago, IL 60064 86%722$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Springfield, MA 01104 85%419$50,154$234,800$237 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 85%422$55,324$237,200$219 pricier homes ($29K more) · more apartments and townhomes
East Hartford, CT 06108 85%397$56,663$230,500$205 larger · older residents
Waterbury, CT 06706 85%372$52,242$210,700$188 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Amarillo, TX 79102 85%1,427$51,125$153,100$123 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Tucson, AZ 85714 85%1,988$55,000$203,600$194 older residents · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53218 84%755$45,642$133,400$139 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77012 84%1,197$45,025$162,200$156 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 8 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78204 84%1,378$60,255$173,100$207 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85009 84%2,024$52,054$236,100$230 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Fresno, CA 93702 84%2,382$47,229$243,600$239 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55103 83%1,040$48,390$257,500$205 pricier homes ($50K more)
Saint Ann, MO 63074 83%779$51,610$132,700$153 cheaper homes ($75K less)

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.