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 70113

New Orleans: median income $39,333, home value $305,800, $141/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hartford, CT 06105 87%1,267$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Spokane, WA 99201 87%1,898$41,171$312,600$207 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45229 85%711$32,263$285,900$133 less walkable
New Haven, CT 06519 84%1,238$49,619$316,700$181 larger · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43203 84%801$47,572$319,300$169 younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14201 83%1,088$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06710 79%1,244$37,191$228,300$154 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 5 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 77%1,260$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14608 77%1,142$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($119K less) · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40203 77%625$30,794$197,300$145 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48208 77%941$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 76%922$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($91K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48207 76%943$47,831$211,600$123 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · newer homes
Hartford, CT 06106 75%1,266$46,304$214,200$187 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Bridgeport, CT 06608 75%1,224$45,754$235,800$175 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 7 min longer commute
Wilmington, DE 19801 75%1,064$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32202 75%505$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more renters
Detroit, MI 48202 75%943$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64109 75%680$41,943$275,000$124 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Springfield, MA 01107 74%1,284$35,632$243,600$187 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 74%1,100$41,126$207,400$211 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13203 74%1,189$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger
Fall River, MA 02723 73%1,332$47,633$357,800$244 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14209 73%1,090$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($124K more)
Detroit, MI 48216 73%940$44,335$242,600$106 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · 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.