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 Memphis, TN 38104

Memphis: median income $58,117, home value $317,200, $167/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43205 93%509$60,181$317,300$160 smaller
New Orleans, LA 70119 93%356$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70125 93%358$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($112K more)
Covington, KY 41011 90%406$69,970$304,200$204 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14216 89%805$69,629$294,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14214 88%805$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63104 88%241$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($48K less)
San Antonio, TX 78212 88%633$62,801$330,600$197 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79902 88%977$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Rochester, NY 14620 87%863$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Albany, NY 12208 86%1,012$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 85%662$72,920$317,600$235 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 85%661$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 85%589$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 85%371$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 85%425$60,205$301,900$199 smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45206 84%410$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tucson, AZ 85716 84%1,217$49,061$324,000$231 newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87106 84%938$49,781$354,200$242 pricier homes ($37K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63118 83%239$57,762$221,200$131 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Columbus, OH 43202 82%510$69,524$341,400$264 younger residents
Lakewood, OH 44107 82%624$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63143 82%241$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 81%657$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 81%662$63,086$321,100$226 smaller · more homeowners

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.