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 70122

New Orleans: median income $49,455, home value $283,900, $161/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albuquerque, NM 87110 89%1,023$64,892$273,900$202 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85711 88%1,239$56,121$280,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29204 87%599$50,189$199,600$166 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · younger residents
Portsmouth, VA 23707 86%920$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Savannah, GA 31404 86%552$53,303$215,500$209 cheaper homes ($68K less) · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37411 86%447$56,579$232,300$162 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · younger residents
Knoxville, TN 37917 86%546$54,423$219,200$227 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32205 85%499$64,789$291,900$210 Very close on everything we compare
Panama City, FL 32401 85%264$52,523$230,500$197 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Toledo, OH 43614 85%878$58,961$168,400$141 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45224 85%709$56,471$204,000$150 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · less walkable
Lincoln, NE 68510 85%833$65,951$239,700$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73112 85%579$58,419$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30310 84%419$53,037$340,300$195 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Butte, MT 59701 84%1,640$60,437$248,200$181 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Kansas City, MO 64131 84%670$64,201$234,200$175 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · younger residents
Houston, TX 77023 84%315$51,430$302,300$188 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78202 84%505$47,478$234,700$173 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Klamath Falls, OR 97601 84%1,949$51,780$295,300$216 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Richmond, VA 23222 83%893$61,345$274,800$218 younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24012 83%770$52,973$184,400$143 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 83%470$57,742$184,700$143 cheaper homes ($99K less)
North Charleston, SC 29405 82%625$56,600$307,800$284 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32207 82%504$65,234$307,200$226 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40505 82%642$58,206$179,200$170 cheaper homes ($105K less)

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.