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 48208

Detroit: median income $36,194, home value $176,400, $195/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waterbury, CT 06710 88%519$37,191$228,300$154 pricier homes ($52K more)
Columbus, OH 43222 81%165$32,321$228,300$140 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55806 80%539$42,833$161,400$150 7 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 79%138$46,854$184,800$150 newer homes
Springfield, MA 01107 78%536$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Spokane, WA 99201 78%1,703$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40203 77%316$30,794$197,300$145 larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45229 77%233$32,263$285,900$133 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64109 77%642$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($99K more) · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70113 77%941$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($129K more)
Willimantic, CT 06226 76%560$47,162$190,000$186 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13203 76%356$46,997$156,900$118 larger · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14608 76%283$40,646$187,000$97 larger · more renters
Albany, NY 12206 75%475$41,548$162,300$112 larger
Waterbury, CT 06706 74%520$52,242$210,700$188 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14207 74%217$39,753$133,600$103 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Roanoke, VA 24016 73%388$46,512$119,700$129 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Cleveland, OH 44102 73%92$42,714$113,400$126 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63112 73%455$45,542$212,700$135 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87102 73%1,360$42,990$197,300$230 larger · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01108 72%539$50,661$250,900$181 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06112 72%534$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Hartford, CT 06114 72%536$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Hartford, CT 06106 71%535$46,304$214,200$187 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Bridgeport, CT 06607 71%518$50,000$232,700$191 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents

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.