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 23707

Portsmouth: median income $48,926, home value $230,800, $178/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78202 95%1,374$47,478$234,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Cocoa, FL 32922 92%639$44,469$217,400$184 newer homes
Houston, TX 77023 92%1,198$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Savannah, GA 31404 91%425$53,303$215,500$209 larger
Panama City, FL 32401 90%707$52,523$230,500$197 older residents
Knoxville, TN 37917 90%425$54,423$219,200$227 larger
Racine, WI 53403 90%730$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75224 90%1,195$51,919$239,600$207 larger
Martinsburg, WV 25401 88%202$51,909$229,200$173 less walkable
Chattanooga, TN 37411 88%513$56,579$232,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43224 88%421$53,321$170,800$177 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Kenner, LA 70062 88%930$51,477$200,300$151 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70117 88%920$45,764$260,000$162 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 88%1,187$51,227$172,100$125 cheaper homes ($59K less)
San Antonio, TX 78201 88%1,377$47,121$197,800$172 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14218 87%433$54,748$150,200$167 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 87%321$61,645$185,900$169 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 87%540$57,021$229,700$179 larger · newer homes
Pensacola, FL 32501 87%766$44,139$287,900$228 pricier homes ($57K more) · more walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45237 87%470$44,913$170,600$150 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 87%555$52,154$154,200$147 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Houston, TX 77022 87%1,198$52,739$219,200$183 larger · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78204 87%1,377$60,255$173,100$207 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 86%216$65,070$200,200$207 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Utica, NY 13502 86%437$57,835$158,000$154 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger

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.