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 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Cincinnati: median income $95,633, home value $443,600, $278/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21231 88%424$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 5 min longer commute
New Orleans, LA 70130 84%708$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($119K more) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55405 79%606$73,053$467,700$244 more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 78%394$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19107 78%501$69,105$458,600$357 lower income ($27K less)
Portland, OR 97214 73%1,978$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($328K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53211 70%326$75,256$434,500$282 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 70%604$70,326$396,100$214 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21230 69%422$91,842$330,100$234 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Burlington, VT 05401 68%689$65,657$492,100$360 lower income ($30K less) · pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 68%260$66,582$553,700$292 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23220 68%397$61,381$473,100$318 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Denver, CO 80203 68%1,092$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80218 68%1,091$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($233K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14607 67%455$59,787$350,100$171 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($94K less)
Philadelphia, PA 19146 67%500$103,059$461,000$340 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53202 67%325$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($103K less) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 67%598$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($151K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02903 66%712$64,476$408,900$475 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
West Hartford, CT 06119 66%645$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23507 66%473$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55413 66%605$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64112 66%541$100,736$410,800$265 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Portland, ME 04101 65%801$63,880$617,600$568 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($174K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19103 65%500$99,644$582,500$477 pricier homes ($139K more) · 6 min longer commute · 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.