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 45220

Cincinnati: median income $53,440, home value $402,900, $200/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63108 86%310$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 84%757$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 83%540$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($116K less) · more walkable
Worcester, MA 01609 82%699$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35205 81%410$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 81%604$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($65K more) · more walkable
Spokane, WA 99204 79%1,738$58,277$397,700$199 smaller
Richmond, VA 23220 78%398$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more walkable
Memphis, TN 38104 78%410$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14214 77%396$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70119 77%708$53,143$371,000$195 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
New Haven, CT 06511 76%629$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, NY 14607 76%454$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Burlington, VT 05401 75%688$65,657$492,100$360 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
New Haven, CT 06515 75%627$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 75%395$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · older residents
Rochester, NY 14620 75%453$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger
New Orleans, LA 70125 75%710$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 74%257$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($151K less) · more walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 74%259$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($157K less) · older residents · more walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 74%758$60,205$301,900$199 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74120 74%659$68,255$434,600$188 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Albuquerque, NM 87106 74%1,246$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14209 73%393$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14222 73%393$81,652$407,600$217 higher income ($28K more)

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.