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 23704

Portsmouth: median income $49,583, home value $230,300, $175/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55103 95%1,039$48,390$257,500$205 pricier homes ($27K more)
Trenton, NJ 08618 92%250$50,390$227,000$186 larger
New Orleans, LA 70114 92%922$43,493$206,700$150 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75215 92%1,191$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($40K less)
East Hartford, CT 06108 91%395$56,663$230,500$205 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06706 91%370$52,242$210,700$188 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43213 91%414$54,704$211,700$163 larger
Dallas, TX 75203 91%1,194$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53225 90%756$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55130 90%1,038$54,130$236,000$170 younger residents
Houston, TX 77021 90%1,203$45,574$227,900$152 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06705 89%371$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Cocoa, FL 32922 89%639$44,469$217,400$184 more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46224 89%577$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77023 89%1,200$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($72K more)
Albuquerque, NM 87108 89%1,690$42,724$243,200$193 larger
Indian Orchard, MA 01151 88%420$55,324$237,200$219 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 88%558$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53209 88%753$48,486$166,700$137 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 88%1,170$57,688$202,800$167 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77092 88%1,204$58,728$242,900$200 larger · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78213 88%1,376$55,884$216,400$164 larger
Allentown, PA 18109 87%267$58,031$198,800$195 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Charlotte, NC 28208 87%279$55,431$236,300$231 larger
Bakersfield, CA 93301 87%2,366$43,561$295,700$209 pricier homes ($65K more)

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.