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 45255

Cincinnati: median income $92,035, home value $303,800, $188/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Troy, MI 48083 96%250$90,794$315,800$199 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeville, PA 15017 94%242$86,937$246,500$193 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 94%398$99,077$284,500$199 larger
Baldwinsville, NY 13027 93%504$91,797$246,800$217 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64151 93%552$92,876$323,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23235 92%383$96,083$356,000$221 pricier homes ($52K more)
Tucker, GA 30084 92%359$81,304$360,500$204 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Grafton, WI 53024 92%349$92,390$366,300$244 pricier homes ($63K more)
Getzville, NY 14068 91%400$98,750$365,300$221 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33618 91%766$84,788$415,800$236 pricier homes ($112K more)
Memphis, TN 38119 91%409$89,289$296,700$147 5 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40223 91%86$96,607$362,500$179 pricier homes ($59K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Walled Lake, MI 48390 91%246$91,381$309,400$205 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53188 91%341$92,409$348,600$237 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Oakdale, PA 15071 90%240$102,328$275,000$192 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Bethlehem, PA 18017 90%487$91,173$336,100$207 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Columbia, SC 29212 90%386$77,142$247,000$149 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 90%146$85,833$258,700$150 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Clarkston, MI 48346 90%258$101,477$325,400$209 Very close on everything we compare
Greendale, WI 53129 90%329$95,012$311,800$231 smaller · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55437 90%610$95,718$381,700$202 pricier homes ($78K more)
Dundee, IL 60118 90%295$106,912$357,900$208 pricier homes ($54K more)
Saint Charles, IL 60174 90%287$104,534$362,200$254 pricier homes ($58K more)
New Orleans, LA 70123 90%712$83,585$348,100$187 pricier homes ($44K more)
Tucson, AZ 85715 90%1,553$85,069$370,000$219 pricier homes ($66K 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.