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 87110

Albuquerque: median income $64,892, home value $273,900, $202/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, NE 68510 92%668$65,951$239,700$156 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32205 91%1,478$64,789$291,900$210 6 min longer commute
Butte, MT 59701 90%815$60,437$248,200$181 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32207 89%1,484$65,234$307,200$226 pricier homes ($33K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Superior, WI 54880 89%1,098$68,275$190,700$170 cheaper homes ($83K less)
New Orleans, LA 70122 89%1,023$49,455$283,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74105 89%600$69,547$337,100$210 pricier homes ($63K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45215 88%1,247$69,372$226,400$180 cheaper homes ($48K less) · less walkable
Des Moines, IA 50310 88%830$76,381$222,700$212 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 88%783$77,292$276,100$174 smaller
Newport News, VA 23601 87%1,680$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53219 87%1,133$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55420 87%971$82,170$328,400$207 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55421 87%981$70,772$277,300$195 more apartments and townhomes
Lincoln, NE 68506 87%668$72,637$258,600$157 newer homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 87%277$64,035$386,200$192 pricier homes ($112K more)
Buffalo, NY 14217 86%1,574$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older homes
North Charleston, SC 29405 86%1,527$56,600$307,800$284 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 86%1,245$74,906$246,700$214 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Madison, WI 53714 86%1,075$71,519$306,900$258 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Kansas City, MO 64131 86%713$64,201$234,200$175 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lincoln, NE 68502 86%666$68,523$227,300$153 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73112 86%508$58,419$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85711 86%318$56,121$280,300$213 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, MA 01201 85%1,852$71,093$259,800$211 less walkable

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.