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 Milwaukee, WI 53208

Milwaukee: median income $52,690, home value $204,500, $125/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14213 99%458$53,870$211,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63118 95%330$57,762$221,200$131 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63112 91%326$45,542$212,700$135 smaller
Schenectady, NY 12308 89%710$63,434$211,900$159 smaller
Detroit, MI 48202 89%252$43,627$186,500$123 smaller
Springfield, MA 01108 87%786$50,661$250,900$181 pricier homes ($46K more)
Buffalo, NY 14214 87%461$58,228$240,800$156 pricier homes ($36K more)
Syracuse, NY 13203 86%597$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Utica, NY 13501 85%642$52,548$157,500$106 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Hartford, CT 06114 84%784$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($28K more)
New London, CT 06320 84%819$59,170$253,300$223 pricier homes ($49K more)
Scranton, PA 18510 84%640$53,235$181,600$117 smaller · less walkable
Omaha, NE 68105 84%428$57,533$208,800$162 more single-family homes · newer homes
Albany, NY 12202 83%719$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · more renters
Trenton, NJ 08618 82%707$50,390$227,000$186 newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 82%199$46,854$184,800$150 smaller · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14210 81%462$54,197$129,800$116 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15212 81%448$64,077$177,500$167 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Detroit, MI 48216 81%253$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64109 81%440$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Holyoke, MA 01040 80%781$53,605$274,100$183 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents · newer homes
Albany, NY 12206 80%718$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more renters
Syracuse, NY 13204 80%595$45,351$113,000$106 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Columbus, OH 43205 80%335$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller
Duluth, MN 55806 80%328$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller

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.