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 Chattanooga, TN 37402

Chattanooga: median income $24,214, home value $268,800, $332/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40202 75%223$35,584$257,300$258 larger
Detroit, MI 48201 64%519$24,749$412,600$323 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger · younger residents
Reno, NV 89501 64%1,909$33,963$414,000$352 pricier homes ($145K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32202 62%389$34,825$268,800$159 larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45203 62%284$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70112 61%448$19,395$391,900$408 pricier homes ($123K more) · younger residents · older homes
San Bernardino, CA 92401 57%1,812$26,596$353,700$532 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 55%588$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 50%473$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Charleston, WV 25301 49%306$25,417$196,900$145 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44115 49%487$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · younger residents
Fresno, CA 93721 49%1,922$40,033$243,800$157 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14204 48%643$28,182$152,400$150 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01103 46%841$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lexington, KY 40507 45%212$41,329$328,600$323 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · older residents
Miami, FL 33136 44%708$44,843$416,900$328 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · younger residents
Newark, NJ 07114 43%721$36,019$373,200$226 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06702 42%802$14,474$286,100— older residents · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89169 42%1,671$40,904$315,100$213 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Mobile, AL 36602 40%340$41,420$316,400$211 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · older residents
Newark, NJ 07102 39%723$38,864$431,500$294 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55404 39%803$41,940$291,600$223 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55454 39%803$23,100$186,600$127 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01608 37%882$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents
Fresno, CA 93701 37%1,923$32,768$246,400$172 larger · younger residents · more single-family 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.