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 45226

Cincinnati: median income $97,558, home value $408,400, $273/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63117 91%319$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55409 90%606$98,305$378,600$267 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63144 87%320$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35222 85%408$84,066$399,800$251 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53213 83%329$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55108 83%604$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 82%256$95,668$455,100$281 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63132 82%321$87,385$417,000$270 larger · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53226 81%330$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Collingswood, NJ 08108 80%502$108,151$395,300$332 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 80%256$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 79%258$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55105 79%601$107,248$470,100$273 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
West Hartford, CT 06119 78%641$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more renters
Des Moines, IA 50312 78%515$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55426 78%611$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 77%249$123,681$383,700$263 higher income ($26K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21210 77%418$112,428$547,300$256 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Richmond, VA 23221 77%391$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23507 76%469$104,295$555,200$223 pricier homes ($147K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Austin, TX 78722 75%968$105,046$678,300$453 pricier homes ($270K more)
Portland, ME 04103 74%797$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14610 74%453$85,961$258,500$212 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · older residents
Swarthmore, PA 19081 74%487$134,135$378,600$283 higher income ($37K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63130 74%318$85,823$316,100$202 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more single-family homes

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.