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 70116

New Orleans: median income $52,306, home value $386,500, $275/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14209 79%1,087$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents · more renters
Jacksonville, FL 32204 74%501$65,063$375,000$246 more renters · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 73%708$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55102 72%1,048$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14216 69%1,090$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Memphis, TN 38104 69%357$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
Greenfield, MA 01301 68%1,301$56,176$265,300$222 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63104 68%597$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · younger residents
Northampton, MA 01060 67%1,289$76,848$453,400$344 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 67%923$63,086$321,100$226 cheaper homes ($65K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Louisville, KY 40204 67%623$71,116$329,000$220 cheaper homes ($58K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Forest Park, IL 60130 67%832$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99201 67%1,897$41,171$312,600$207 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 66%577$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 66%1,038$61,768$456,100$318 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · younger residents
Turners Falls, MA 01376 65%1,304$55,652$249,400$223 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43205 65%798$60,181$317,300$160 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
El Paso, TX 79902 65%981$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 64%923$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78212 64%507$62,801$330,600$197 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Spokane, WA 99204 64%1,896$58,277$397,700$199 younger residents · more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 63%922$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($140K less) · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28801 63%584$58,438$548,100$411 pricier homes ($162K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Duluth, MN 55802 63%1,166$51,544$494,400$439 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · older residents
Norfolk, VA 23517 62%925$67,375$386,600$214 smaller · younger residents · 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.