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 45219

Cincinnati: median income $35,657, home value $207,900, $164/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Syracuse, NY 13210 83%513$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40208 83%92$39,560$188,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Duluth, MN 55805 79%653$43,100$189,400$188 smaller · older residents · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 78%259$31,069$233,500$205 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Omaha, NE 68131 78%622$48,925$227,200$161 older residents
Lexington, KY 40508 75%74$29,440$182,800$240 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19104 71%499$38,814$266,600$187 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 70%257$34,897$214,800$211 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 69%611$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 69%812$39,982$257,700$188 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 68%325$47,298$216,300$145 older residents · more homeowners · older homes
Jackson, MS 39202 67%568$38,554$222,100$135 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48202 67%237$43,627$186,500$123 older residents · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Urbana, IL 61801 67%208$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14201 66%392$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($130K more) · smaller · older residents
Louisville, KY 40203 66%91$30,794$197,300$145 older residents
Springfield, MA 01107 65%657$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32601 65%667$30,352$284,300$254 pricier homes ($76K more) · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63112 64%312$45,542$212,700$135 older residents · more homeowners · older homes
Lincoln, NE 68508 64%655$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
Tucson, AZ 85719 64%1,551$42,241$304,300$266 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 63%603$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($84K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Lafayette, IN 47901 62%154$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63103 61%309$40,943$202,900$124 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35205 60%409$51,158$293,800$235 pricier homes ($86K more) · 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.