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 70130

New Orleans: median income $80,212, home value $562,800, $325/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45202 84%708$95,633$443,600$278 cheaper homes ($119K less) · younger residents
Northampton, MA 01060 83%1,292$76,848$453,400$344 cheaper homes ($109K less) · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55405 82%1,054$73,053$467,700$244 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14222 81%1,090$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($155K less) · younger residents
Denver, CO 80218 80%1,080$81,706$676,700$398 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · newer homes
Portland, OR 97214 79%2,059$87,131$771,800$338 pricier homes ($209K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21231 78%1,001$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($213K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98403 78%2,096$88,056$829,800$391 pricier homes ($267K more) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Portland, ME 04102 76%1,442$82,751$503,500$388 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Portland, ME 04101 75%1,443$63,880$617,600$568 pricier homes ($55K more) · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53211 73%917$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55102 73%1,050$76,406$292,200$225 cheaper homes ($271K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Norfolk, VA 23507 72%926$104,295$555,200$223 smaller · more single-family homes
Sacramento, CA 95816 72%1,879$90,839$839,700$504 pricier homes ($277K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Richmond, VA 23220 71%894$61,381$473,100$318 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
Providence, RI 02903 70%1,324$64,476$408,900$475 cheaper homes ($154K less) · more renters · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19107 70%1,089$69,105$458,600$357 cheaper homes ($104K less) · younger residents · more renters
Portland, OR 97210 70%2,062$93,621$991,200$376 pricier homes ($428K more) · newer homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 69%1,265$99,688$378,400$281 cheaper homes ($184K less) · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 69%924$66,582$553,700$292 younger residents · newer homes
Wilmington, DE 19806 69%1,064$88,855$386,000$259 cheaper homes ($177K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44113 69%925$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($263K less) · larger · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19146 68%1,088$103,059$461,000$340 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23517 68%927$67,375$386,600$214 cheaper homes ($176K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 68%710$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($291K 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.