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 New Orleans, LA 70112

New Orleans: median income $19,395, home value $391,900, $408/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48201 65%940$24,749$412,600$323 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Chattanooga, TN 37402 61%448$24,214$268,800$332 cheaper homes ($123K less) · older residents · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01103 56%1,283$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($206K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45203 49%706$21,973$356,900$185 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44115 48%925$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($214K less) · larger · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78205 45%506$38,964$604,600$518 pricier homes ($213K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40202 44%624$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · newer homes
Los Angeles, CA 90014 43%1,669$31,000$615,700$541 pricier homes ($224K more) · larger · 17 min longer commute
San Bernardino, CA 92401 41%1,615$26,596$353,700$532 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Reno, NV 89501 36%1,803$33,963$414,000$352 older residents · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 35%920$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14201 34%1,087$40,512$337,600$194 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32202 32%504$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35203 32%312$47,434$334,000$274 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40507 30%643$41,329$328,600$323 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older residents
Peoria, IL 61602 30%742$33,750$231,000$103 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller · younger residents
Scranton, PA 18503 29%1,128$36,107$267,200$185 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · younger residents
Charleston, WV 25301 29%754$25,417$196,900$145 cheaper homes ($195K less) · older residents · less walkable
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 29%835$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($235K less) · smaller · younger residents
Spokane, WA 99201 29%1,897$41,171$312,600$207 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01105 28%1,284$24,036$217,800$136 cheaper homes ($174K less) · larger · younger residents
Gainesville, FL 32603 28%464$13,408$329,000$270 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45229 28%710$32,263$285,900$133 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13202 27%1,186$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($303K less) · larger · younger residents
Knoxville, TN 37915 27%548$26,379$210,800$322 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · younger 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.