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 45206

Cincinnati: median income $62,648, home value $271,700, $213/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 89%258$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63104 89%310$68,764$268,900$161 larger
Kansas City, MO 64111 89%542$61,729$286,700$219 larger
Buffalo, NY 14216 86%394$69,629$294,700$200 larger · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 86%597$76,406$292,200$225 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 85%255$67,345$252,100$189 younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23517 84%472$67,375$386,600$214 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · more walkable
Memphis, TN 38104 84%410$58,117$317,200$167 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63108 84%312$55,147$372,200$213 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Rochester, NY 14620 83%452$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99204 83%1,740$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($126K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63101 81%309$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more walkable
New Orleans, LA 70119 81%708$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14209 80%393$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($158K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 80%260$72,920$317,600$235 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 79%392$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($136K more)
Rochester, NY 14607 79%454$59,787$350,100$171 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger · more renters
Albany, NY 12208 78%609$70,413$264,700$207 larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14214 78%395$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55101 78%597$64,863$260,400$210 more renters · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 78%606$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · younger residents
Albany, NY 12210 77%610$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35205 77%410$51,158$293,800$235 larger · younger residents · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70125 76%710$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 76%758$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller · 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.