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 53212

Milwaukee: median income $47,298, home value $216,300, $145/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63112 96%329$45,542$212,700$135 smaller
Buffalo, NY 14213 94%456$53,870$211,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48202 94%250$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44106 90%340$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($39K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63118 88%332$57,762$221,200$131 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14214 87%458$58,228$240,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, NY 12206 83%715$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Albany, NY 12202 82%716$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Duluth, MN 55805 82%329$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
New London, CT 06320 81%816$59,170$253,300$223 pricier homes ($37K more)
Louisville, KY 40208 81%353$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48216 81%250$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 80%114$64,661$241,900$211 pricier homes ($26K more)
Schenectady, NY 12308 79%707$63,434$211,900$159 smaller
Syracuse, NY 13203 79%594$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43205 79%334$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68131 79%431$48,925$227,200$161 smaller · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01108 78%783$50,661$250,900$181 pricier homes ($35K more)
Buffalo, NY 14201 78%456$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64109 78%443$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70119 78%913$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($155K more) · older residents
Providence, RI 02907 77%844$52,485$349,200$213 pricier homes ($133K more)
Syracuse, NY 13210 77%594$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14620 77%519$61,783$205,000$179 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79902 77%1,279$50,873$238,500$163 smaller · older residents · more single-family 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.