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 70121

New Orleans: median income $59,562, home value $247,900, $175/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bennington, VT 05201 96%1,294$59,798$212,700$193 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Brewer, ME 04412 94%1,550$66,613$245,300$194 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 94%1,407$62,411$197,500$171 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Mobile, AL 36604 92%134$66,357$249,300$170 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45224 92%714$56,471$204,000$150 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45246 90%720$65,370$205,500$166 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Greenfield, MA 01301 89%1,305$56,176$265,300$222 larger
Brattleboro, VT 05301 88%1,317$65,910$270,900$220 larger
Ellenville, NY 12428 88%1,195$63,145$238,400$199 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Canton, OH 44709 88%898$57,842$161,200$144 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45215 88%718$69,372$226,400$180 larger
Appleton, WI 54911 88%994$67,001$216,100$174 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Auburn, ME 04210 87%1,463$66,647$282,000$208 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Rutland, VT 05701 87%1,334$61,610$217,700$192 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26501 87%881$63,529$219,800$157 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · newer homes
Kimberly, WI 54136 87%994$69,495$220,700$183 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · newer homes
Turners Falls, MA 01376 86%1,308$55,652$249,400$223 smaller
Old Town, ME 04468 86%1,559$56,358$203,700$192 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Waterville, ME 04901 86%1,506$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Dallastown, PA 17313 86%1,026$70,176$237,900$163 newer homes
Sayre, PA 18840 86%1,125$59,214$171,300$136 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Huntington, WV 25701 86%731$56,292$164,300$115 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Southfield, MI 48075 86%945$65,384$227,000$135 larger · younger residents
Fredonia, NY 14063 85%1,050$57,937$183,500$146 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 85%924$61,645$185,900$169 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more walkable

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.