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 53215

Milwaukee: median income $54,289, home value $156,800, $150/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Utica, NY 13501 87%641$52,548$157,500$106 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MA 01108 85%785$50,661$250,900$181 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01109 85%784$48,415$219,900$208 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13208 83%595$44,712$123,600$146 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44109 83%337$42,872$122,200$124 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Buffalo, NY 14210 82%461$54,197$129,800$116 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14215 81%461$44,955$111,600$115 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06114 80%783$52,110$232,800$158 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Brooklyn, MD 21225 79%644$54,020$229,000$187 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hartford, CT 06112 78%781$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · newer homes
Waterbury, CT 06704 77%767$48,718$192,000$205 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Waterbury, CT 06706 77%768$52,242$210,700$188 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · newer homes
Gloucester City, NJ 08030 77%697$63,384$179,200$196 smaller · more homeowners
Camden, NJ 08105 77%697$45,974$121,100$182 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Trenton, NJ 08611 77%708$56,788$160,500$181 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Trenton, NJ 08618 77%705$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14218 77%462$54,748$150,200$167 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55411 77%300$60,225$245,400$145 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14208 76%460$48,476$130,200$101 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44102 76%334$42,714$113,400$126 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more renters
Cicero, IL 60804 76%81$70,842$249,400$200 pricier homes ($93K more) · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63111 76%330$47,039$128,400$101 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01104 75%783$50,154$234,800$237 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14206 75%462$50,450$125,100$122 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Wilmington, DE 19805 75%679$60,221$237,100$204 pricier homes ($80K more) · more homeowners

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.