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 45213

Cincinnati: median income $76,356, home value $286,100, $212/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63109 91%318$69,938$264,700$201 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 90%255$67,960$217,500$190 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Louisville, KY 40217 90%97$69,114$233,800$199 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 90%763$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Louisville, KY 40204 89%96$71,116$329,000$220 pricier homes ($43K more)
Des Moines, IA 50312 89%514$92,242$291,900$221 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63139 89%318$75,757$209,600$205 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68132 89%627$68,221$333,900$193 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 88%256$63,086$321,100$226 pricier homes ($35K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53207 88%319$79,117$243,600$241 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Albany, NY 12209 87%604$89,390$217,100$168 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15211 87%249$79,758$219,900$206 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more renters
Roanoke, VA 24015 87%275$69,831$267,500$154 newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63130 87%319$85,823$316,100$202 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Rochester, NY 14610 86%450$85,961$258,500$212 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55407 86%602$78,464$335,400$228 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15216 85%247$80,313$206,500$196 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46205 85%102$72,417$304,500$135 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55104 85%599$75,712$317,700$207 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63110 84%316$81,655$339,900$208 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more renters
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 83%500$80,833$300,500$259 6 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14217 83%390$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40206 83%94$75,798$273,900$200 larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55409 83%603$98,305$378,600$267 pricier homes ($93K more)
Kansas City, MO 64110 83%544$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents

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.