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 70119

New Orleans: median income $53,143, home value $371,000, $195/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38104 93%356$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43205 86%798$60,181$317,300$160 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14216 84%1,090$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14209 83%1,088$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78212 83%506$62,801$330,600$197 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more single-family homes
El Paso, TX 79902 83%980$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller
Tucson, AZ 85716 83%1,241$49,061$324,000$231 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14214 82%1,090$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63104 82%597$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
New London, CT 06320 81%1,275$59,170$253,300$223 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 81%924$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Covington, KY 41011 81%703$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Lakewood, OH 44107 81%920$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45206 81%708$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49503 81%930$64,661$241,900$211 cheaper homes ($129K less) · younger residents
Spokane, WA 99204 81%1,895$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Spokane, WA 99201 80%1,896$41,171$312,600$207 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Holyoke, MA 01040 79%1,285$53,605$274,100$183 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Albuquerque, NM 87106 79%1,024$49,781$354,200$242 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01605 78%1,324$54,642$392,100$270 younger residents · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14620 78%1,140$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53212 78%913$47,298$216,300$145 cheaper homes ($155K less) · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63118 78%596$57,762$221,200$131 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Kansas City, MO 64111 78%678$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 78%1,037$61,768$456,100$318 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller · 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.