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 45232

Cincinnati: median income $28,367, home value $130,500, $87/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schenectady, NY 12307 81%605$24,758$104,600$122 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Rochester, NY 14613 79%451$37,778$120,600$84 larger
Macon, GA 31201 79%443$29,420$171,400$88 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53205 79%321$31,529$124,200$96 more walkable · newer homes
Augusta, GA 30901 72%420$25,163$104,000$109 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78226 71%1,046$33,398$107,100$138 more homeowners · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14605 70%453$21,201$82,700$76 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
South Bend, IN 46601 70%195$30,789$145,000$96 older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53206 70%322$29,336$83,400$59 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Camden, NJ 08102 68%503$33,852$84,500$80 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 68%223$39,344$111,300$106 larger · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Rockford, IL 61104 67%319$33,772$90,100$100 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
North Little Rock, AR 72114 67%525$30,175$130,000$85 larger · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Killeen, TX 76541 67%930$37,349$116,300$94 larger · newer homes
Reading, PA 19602 66%463$34,582$96,000$121 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, NY 14608 65%451$40,646$187,000$97 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14207 64%391$39,753$133,600$103 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14621 64%453$35,383$90,700$100 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40203 64%94$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Springfield, MA 01105 63%657$24,036$217,800$136 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hammond, IN 46320 63%230$37,158$135,000$133 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Albany, NY 12206 62%610$41,548$162,300$112 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Rochester, NY 14611 62%450$31,376$82,400$88 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Erie, PA 16507 62%309$33,361$66,400$85 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Camden, NJ 08103 61%503$36,793$138,000$130 larger · 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.