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 45224

Cincinnati: median income $56,471, home value $204,000, $150/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70121 92%714$59,562$247,900$175 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Auburn, NY 13021 91%488$60,712$180,700$144 larger
Huntington, WV 25701 91%125$56,292$164,300$115 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Bennington, VT 05201 90%642$59,798$212,700$193 6 min shorter commute
Wheeling, WV 26003 90%215$57,703$166,100$132 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 89%738$62,411$197,500$171 smaller
Butler, PA 16001 89%269$63,635$199,100$156 larger
Lexington, KY 40505 89%79$58,206$179,200$170 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 88%251$69,099$184,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 88%255$61,645$185,900$169 smaller
Madison Heights, MI 48071 88%240$69,503$199,100$196 younger residents
Southfield, MI 48075 88%236$65,384$227,000$135 younger residents
Uniontown, PA 15401 87%260$53,925$155,600$123 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Pittston, PA 18643 87%482$63,125$174,500$128 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Kingston, PA 18704 87%477$64,444$162,000$129 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Roanoke, VA 24012 87%282$52,973$184,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Salisbury, NC 28144 87%330$52,568$226,700$159 younger residents
Knoxville, TN 37914 87%225$59,856$218,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Park, MI 48237 87%236$71,510$212,300$165 younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64138 87%533$58,638$188,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14606 86%449$55,807$158,400$160 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Pittston, PA 18640 86%483$60,862$147,500$116 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Sayre, PA 18840 86%462$59,214$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
New Albany, IN 47150 86%93$62,820$207,000$152 larger
Belleville, IL 62220 86%298$65,952$157,400$112 cheaper homes ($47K less)

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.