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 Albuquerque, NM 87106

Albuquerque: median income $49,781, home value $354,200, $242/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85716 92%316$49,061$324,000$231 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35205 87%1,134$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Memphis, TN 38104 84%938$58,117$317,200$167 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · older homes
Missoula, MT 59801 84%900$58,347$442,400$345 pricier homes ($88K more)
New Orleans, LA 70125 83%1,024$61,174$429,200$177 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23505 81%1,693$58,579$326,300$221 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Covington, KY 41011 81%1,246$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Arcata, CA 95521 81%1,029$53,114$501,000$340 pricier homes ($147K more) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43202 80%1,333$69,524$341,400$264 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, NY 12208 79%1,829$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($90K less)
New Orleans, LA 70119 79%1,024$53,143$371,000$195 older residents · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 79%513$60,205$301,900$199 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 79%278$63,281$379,000$264 smaller
Richmond, VA 23225 78%1,623$62,949$313,300$265 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Columbia, SC 29205 78%1,456$64,231$349,700$234 more homeowners
Bloomington, IN 47408 78%1,143$45,644$346,900$188 younger residents · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78212 78%614$62,801$330,600$197 older residents · older homes
New Haven, CT 06515 77%1,865$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($25K less)
State College, PA 16801 76%1,609$61,836$414,600$228 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · newer homes
Wilmington, NC 28403 76%1,628$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($33K more) · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70118 76%1,023$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($111K more) · older homes
El Paso, TX 79902 76%228$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($116K less) · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85719 76%317$42,241$304,300$266 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Worcester, MA 01609 75%1,927$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($90K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Richmond, VA 23223 75%1,629$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · newer 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.