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 70006

Metairie: median income $76,505, home value $344,800, $167/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pensacola, FL 32504 94%182$72,672$275,800$179 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64063 94%659$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23703 93%925$78,707$295,900$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Dayton, OH 45440 93%751$82,383$267,900$158 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Saint Albans, VT 05478 92%1,382$71,203$316,400$224 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Newark, DE 19713 92%1,055$76,493$292,600$215 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68137 92%841$80,739$252,200$160 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Casper, WY 82609 92%1,255$71,010$293,900$169 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Chattanooga, TN 37416 91%457$70,705$253,100$193 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 91%931$81,657$306,700$207 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Spokane, WA 99218 91%1,892$80,733$445,300$187 pricier homes ($101K more)
Lexington, VA 24450 90%816$76,587$305,100$225 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Savannah, GA 31406 90%555$67,120$283,300$217 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32217 90%513$73,832$325,100$189 more walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32257 90%513$75,780$339,300$200 larger
Panama City, FL 32405 90%270$73,373$279,900$196 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40242 90%628$75,417$299,600$174 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Valparaiso, IN 46383 90%810$76,224$279,900$179 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 90%925$70,120$281,600$187 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66203 90%675$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Arlington, TX 76012 90%451$88,141$334,600$172 larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 90%1,029$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Absecon, NJ 08201 89%1,101$71,321$287,000$226 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Dallastown, PA 17313 89%1,025$70,176$237,900$163 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Gettysburg, PA 17325 89%998$80,948$287,200$191 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger

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.