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 Mobile, AL 36604

Mobile: median income $66,357, home value $249,300, $170/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70121 92%134$59,562$247,900$175 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 90%1,290$62,411$197,500$171 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Fayetteville, NC 28305 89%611$78,148$260,900$175 smaller
Brewer, ME 04412 88%1,430$66,613$245,300$194 newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 87%641$69,827$249,200$186 larger · more walkable
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 86%1,215$70,299$209,100$139 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 86%814$61,645$185,900$169 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Roanoke, VA 24015 86%648$69,831$267,500$154 larger · younger residents · more walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45215 86%625$69,372$226,400$180 larger
Appleton, WI 54911 86%940$67,001$216,100$174 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45224 85%622$56,471$204,000$150 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · newer homes
Bennington, VT 05201 84%1,175$59,798$212,700$193 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18512 84%1,016$64,708$176,100$130 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Oak Park, MI 48237 84%858$71,510$212,300$165 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Brattleboro, VT 05301 83%1,197$65,910$270,900$220 larger · older residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14217 83%988$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more walkable
Corning, NY 14830 83%999$73,263$169,800$117 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44126 83%820$79,269$239,000$200 larger
Greenfield, MA 01301 82%1,184$56,176$265,300$222 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Glens Falls, NY 12801 82%1,178$67,577$212,500$181 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Saranac Lake, NY 12983 82%1,210$65,985$225,200$260 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13224 82%1,078$76,500$218,900$197 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 82%807$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23509 82%801$72,816$258,000$211 more walkable
Wausau, WI 54403 82%989$69,030$192,600$149 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 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.