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.

Reset

Towns most like New Orleans, LA 70125

New Orleans: median income $61,174, home value $429,200, $177/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38104 93%358$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Covington, KY 41011 90%705$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43205 88%800$60,181$317,300$160 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78212 88%505$62,801$330,600$197 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14216 87%1,092$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older homes
Albany, NY 12208 86%1,259$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($165K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 85%925$63,086$321,100$226 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 84%577$60,205$301,900$199 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Worcester, MA 01609 83%1,324$68,381$444,000$267 younger residents
New Haven, CT 06515 83%1,238$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Louisville, KY 40206 83%626$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Omaha, NE 68132 83%848$68,221$333,900$193 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more single-family homes
Albuquerque, NM 87106 83%1,024$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 82%926$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43206 82%799$75,806$317,300$193 cheaper homes ($112K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63104 82%599$68,764$268,900$161 cheaper homes ($160K less) · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74120 82%546$68,255$434,600$188 smaller · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14214 81%1,092$58,228$240,800$156 cheaper homes ($188K less) · older homes
Louisville, KY 40204 81%625$71,116$329,000$220 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 81%1,037$61,768$456,100$318 pricier homes ($27K more)
Columbus, OH 43202 79%803$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45227 79%714$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55104 79%1,050$75,712$317,700$207 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 79%1,052$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($39K more) · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63143 79%598$65,861$236,300$237 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller

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.