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 Omaha, NE 68102

Omaha: median income $64,111, home value $389,400, $329/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richmond, VA 23219 88%1,018$57,507$380,700$361 smaller
Providence, RI 02903 85%1,265$64,476$408,900$475 more walkable
Buffalo, NY 14202 83%881$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller · older residents
Detroit, MI 48226 81%668$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55101 80%293$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55403 78%289$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · newer homes
Wichita, KS 67202 78%258$58,234$407,100$275 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44113 77%738$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53202 77%430$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 77%288$70,326$396,100$214 larger
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 77%830$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($159K more) · larger · more single-family homes
New Haven, CT 06511 76%1,191$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older homes
Baltimore, MD 21202 76%1,026$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23510 75%1,095$73,524$385,700$246 newer homes
Rochester, NY 14607 74%946$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · older homes
Philadelphia, PA 19107 74%1,091$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63108 74%351$55,147$372,200$213 larger · older homes
Portland, OR 97205 74%1,368$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($248K more) · older residents · more walkable
Kansas City, MO 64105 73%165$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($138K less) · smaller
Denver, CO 80203 73%486$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · newer homes
Portland, ME 04101 72%1,314$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($228K more) · larger · older homes
Schenectady, NY 12305 71%1,131$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($172K less) · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 71%622$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 70%1,017$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06103 69%1,201$71,677$275,000$256 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · more renters

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.