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 70124

New Orleans: median income $121,228, home value $580,600, $257/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45242 92%717$124,567$447,100$249 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Portland, OR 97219 92%2,056$121,306$677,900$327 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Littleton, CO 80122 90%1,069$128,691$634,400$256 pricier homes ($54K more)
Columbus, OH 43221 87%798$118,768$446,900$279 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · less walkable
Overland Park, KS 66207 87%670$125,153$440,500$250 cheaper homes ($140K less) · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53217 86%916$133,021$449,100$277 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84124 86%1,422$120,408$746,600$363 pricier homes ($166K more)
Orlando, FL 32804 85%534$113,231$561,000$351 more renters
Columbus, OH 43085 85%804$112,517$407,100$227 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55447 85%1,052$133,555$471,000$229 cheaper homes ($110K less) · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40207 84%624$101,898$421,200$202 cheaper homes ($159K less) · older homes
Glenview, IL 60025 84%844$126,904$521,000$347 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 84%827$137,658$514,300$290 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Wheaton, IL 60189 84%825$128,878$482,800$259 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84121 84%1,419$115,515$659,900$294 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97221 84%2,057$145,671$821,400$342 pricier homes ($241K more) · smaller
Downers Grove, IL 60515 83%823$123,197$461,200$308 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63141 83%598$133,851$620,900$214 pricier homes ($40K more) · less walkable
Neptune Beach, FL 32266 82%520$119,294$670,900$391 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Memphis, TN 38120 82%354$123,538$460,700$168 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 82%823$118,716$566,300$332 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63122 82%592$136,385$474,300$272 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · less walkable
Houston, TX 77018 82%319$127,017$584,600$329 7 min longer commute
Salt Lake City, UT 84109 82%1,423$145,034$731,200$343 pricier homes ($151K more) · older homes
Richmond, VA 23226 81%891$126,655$530,900$390 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older 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.