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 Duluth, MN 55812

Duluth: median income $65,505, home value $322,700, $213/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64110 82%552$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Des Moines, IA 50311 79%369$61,957$226,500$202 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 79%832$60,205$301,900$199 older residents
Norfolk, VA 23508 77%1,059$74,885$408,100$224 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63143 77%573$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74104 77%763$54,691$246,000$189 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Columbia, SC 29205 76%1,058$64,231$349,700$234 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Columbus, OH 43202 76%653$69,524$341,400$264 larger · older residents · more renters
Columbus, OH 43206 76%658$75,806$317,300$193 larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63110 76%573$81,655$339,900$208 larger · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70118 76%1,170$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($143K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 75%747$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 75%749$63,086$321,100$226 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12208 74%940$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14214 73%700$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68132 73%430$68,221$333,900$193 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06515 72%1,018$73,709$328,900$254 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14216 72%699$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45220 72%652$53,440$402,900$200 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 72%411$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70125 71%1,170$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 70%747$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Greensboro, NC 27403 70%975$57,917$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40204 70%674$71,116$329,000$220 older residents
Columbus, OH 43205 70%658$60,181$317,300$160 older residents

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.