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 53211

Milwaukee: median income $75,256, home value $434,500, $282/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55405 91%299$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14222 88%455$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 88%449$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Northampton, MA 01060 87%775$76,848$453,400$344 smaller · older residents
West Hartford, CT 06119 84%778$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45209 84%326$93,420$400,700$289 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Burlington, VT 05401 83%737$65,657$492,100$360 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43202 83%329$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63110 83%332$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23220 82%669$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($39K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 80%449$95,668$455,100$281 older residents · more homeowners
Worcester, MA 01609 79%816$68,381$444,000$267 smaller
Portland, ME 04102 79%883$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 79%446$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70118 79%916$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($31K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 78%447$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($141K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14216 77%456$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55108 77%294$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97214 77%1,713$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($337K more) · older residents · more walkable
Lakewood, OH 44107 76%330$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($172K less)
New Orleans, LA 70115 76%917$90,182$643,100$342 pricier homes ($209K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43212 75%329$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($99K more) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55102 75%290$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($142K less) · smaller · older residents
Evanston, IL 60201 75%72$90,545$590,700$370 pricier homes ($156K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06515 74%772$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller · newer 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.