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 Metairie, LA 70001

Metairie: median income $67,923, home value $339,400, $197/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winchester, VA 22601 93%931$64,258$339,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Henrico, VA 23228 93%896$70,260$283,500$235 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Middletown, CT 06457 92%1,261$79,463$295,300$235 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32257 92%512$75,780$339,300$200 Very close on everything we compare
Galveston, TX 77551 92%284$58,344$290,600$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Bangor, ME 04401 91%1,549$66,932$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 91%874$66,423$280,700$196 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 91%709$67,012$241,700$182 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Utica, MI 48317 91%959$72,917$265,300$186 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 91%926$70,120$281,600$187 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23225 90%893$62,949$313,300$265 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Richmond, VA 23227 90%900$69,187$364,900$242 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 90%214$65,342$321,200$251 smaller
Hurst, TX 76053 90%457$64,141$270,900$196 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Burlington, NC 27215 89%746$68,825$259,900$177 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Greenville, SC 29615 89%568$76,117$377,500$212 pricier homes ($38K more)
Pensacola, FL 32514 89%180$66,644$259,600$167 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 89%538$62,198$291,300$219 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37923 89%542$73,699$333,000$213 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53186 89%905$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more walkable
Eau Claire, WI 54701 89%1,025$74,361$289,900$184 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 89%578$64,745$238,000$167 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Carlisle, PA 17013 88%1,017$71,042$233,300$179 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Hershey, PA 17033 88%1,041$72,945$384,100$198 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Savannah, GA 31405 88%554$65,710$338,200$217 younger 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.