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.

Reset

Towns most like Milwaukee, WI 53205

Milwaukee: median income $31,529, home value $124,200, $96/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schenectady, NY 12307 80%708$24,758$104,600$122 more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45232 79%321$28,367$130,500$87 less walkable · older homes
North Little Rock, AR 72114 77%618$30,175$130,000$85 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45204 76%325$31,236$95,400$121 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40203 74%351$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Huntsville, AL 35816 73%579$40,242$128,900$128 larger · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45214 72%324$27,852$100,500$93 older homes
Chattanooga, TN 37410 71%574$28,708$153,400$174 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Camden, NJ 08102 70%696$33,852$84,500$80 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Norfolk, VA 23523 70%752$35,533$224,600$153 pricier homes ($100K more) · more single-family homes
Huntsville, AL 35805 70%581$35,385$137,800$142 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Montgomery, AL 36104 70%743$33,823$172,700$104 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents · 11 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78226 70%1,112$33,398$107,100$138 older residents · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Harrisburg, PA 17103 69%603$39,825$137,900$90 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12206 68%717$41,548$162,300$112 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older homes
Rochester, NY 14613 68%519$37,778$120,600$84 larger · older homes
Rochester, NY 14621 68%521$35,383$90,700$100 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Memphis, TN 38105 68%557$34,015$90,200$92 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 68%200$34,381$85,200$96 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06120 67%782$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · more renters
Rochester, NY 14605 67%521$21,201$82,700$76 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Killeen, TX 76541 67%984$37,349$116,300$94 larger · less walkable
Memphis, TN 38126 66%559$30,071$59,300$122 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44104 66%340$24,111$69,300$69 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older homes
Memphis, TN 38115 65%562$45,636$145,400$96 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.