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 Detroit, MI 48207

Detroit: median income $47,831, home value $211,600, $123/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilmington, DE 19801 90%429$52,810$199,900$143 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72202 79%725$50,899$262,500$149 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 78%494$41,126$207,400$211 larger
Kansas City, MO 64106 78%644$52,564$238,000$173 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · younger residents
Albany, NY 12206 77%472$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents · older homes
Baltimore, MD 21201 77%396$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($64K more) · younger residents · more renters
Syracuse, NY 13203 76%353$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Baltimore, MD 21202 76%396$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70113 76%943$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · older homes
Omaha, NE 68131 74%670$48,925$227,200$161 younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74136 74%816$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77063 74%1,114$59,113$290,300$170 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Albany, NY 12210 73%472$55,843$228,100$142 smaller · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 73%206$34,897$214,800$211 smaller · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55404 73%542$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($80K more) · younger residents
Wilmington, DE 19802 71%429$53,812$194,600$169 more homeowners · older homes
Columbus, OH 43203 71%165$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78229 71%1,239$46,574$228,900$135 larger · younger residents · more renters
Hartford, CT 06105 70%531$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($191K more) · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74119 70%814$56,234$251,700$125 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
New Haven, CT 06519 69%524$49,619$316,700$181 pricier homes ($105K more) · younger residents · older homes
Albany, NY 12202 69%472$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63103 69%457$40,943$202,900$124 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Hartford, CT 06106 68%531$46,304$214,200$187 larger · younger residents · older homes
Harrisburg, PA 17102 68%349$54,573$193,700$118 smaller · younger residents · older 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.