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 45209

Cincinnati: median income $93,420, home value $400,700, $289/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Hartford, CT 06119 91%640$99,688$378,400$281 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55108 88%602$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 84%326$75,256$434,500$282 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64112 84%545$100,736$410,800$265 Very close on everything we compare
Highland Park, NJ 08904 83%539$104,694$471,700$342 pricier homes ($71K more) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 83%389$81,652$407,600$217 more apartments and townhomes
Norfolk, VA 23507 83%470$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($155K more) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63110 83%316$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Northampton, MA 01060 82%655$76,848$453,400$344 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 82%254$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($107K less) · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 82%255$95,668$455,100$281 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63117 82%320$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Richmond, VA 23221 81%392$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($181K more) · more homeowners
Madison, WI 53705 81%376$88,549$475,400$340 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 78%607$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63144 77%321$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more homeowners
Portland, ME 04102 76%795$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 75%256$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21210 74%417$112,428$547,300$256 pricier homes ($147K more) · more homeowners
Providence, RI 02906 73%709$103,050$638,600$395 pricier homes ($238K more) · larger · more homeowners
Towson, MD 21204 73%419$99,606$594,800$261 pricier homes ($194K more) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55416 73%607$105,958$461,500$272 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · newer homes
Winooski, VT 05404 72%686$79,522$381,500$280 newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53213 72%327$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55116 72%599$81,141$418,200$260 larger · older residents · 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.