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 48226

Detroit: median income $64,860, home value $324,500, $492/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23219 83%444$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · older homes
Providence, RI 02903 82%597$64,476$408,900$475 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68102 81%668$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($65K more) · less walkable
Wichita, KS 67202 75%820$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Portland, OR 97205 73%1,965$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($313K more) · older residents
Hartford, CT 06103 72%533$71,677$275,000$256 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14202 71%215$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($155K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23510 70%522$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($61K more) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 70%533$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners
Tacoma, WA 98402 69%1,940$60,505$531,300$438 pricier homes ($207K more) · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 68%644$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Sacramento, CA 95814 67%2,020$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($309K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Milwaukee, WI 53202 66%251$71,034$340,800$278 larger · more homeowners
Knoxville, TN 37902 65%443$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($363K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 65%1,488$52,952$440,200$399 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80203 63%1,154$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Philadelphia, PA 19107 62%442$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Portland, ME 04101 61%652$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($293K more) · larger · more homeowners
Sacramento, CA 95811 61%2,020$80,827$761,000$400 pricier homes ($437K more) · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14604 60%282$52,105$784,700— pricier homes ($460K more) · smaller · older homes
Baltimore, MD 21202 60%397$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55403 60%543$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 60%1,487$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($224K more) · larger · more homeowners
Manchester, NH 03101 58%590$84,434$429,300$238 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80246 57%1,152$67,235$716,400$405 pricier homes ($392K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute

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.