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 Reno, NV 89501

Reno: median income $33,963, home value $414,000, $352/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40507 77%1,893$41,329$328,600$323 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Mobile, AL 36602 67%1,885$41,420$316,400$211 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · less walkable
Spring Park, MN 55384 65%1,384$48,315$661,600$452 pricier homes ($248K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Chattanooga, TN 37402 64%1,909$24,214$268,800$332 cheaper homes ($145K less) · younger residents · more renters
Louisville, KY 40202 60%1,823$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger · younger residents
Dallas, TX 75246 56%1,362$53,555$447,800$256 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55802 53%1,475$51,544$494,400$439 pricier homes ($80K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Dania, FL 33004 47%2,461$52,574$342,400$258 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33136 47%2,468$44,843$416,900$328 larger · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78205 47%1,395$38,964$604,600$518 pricier homes ($191K more) · smaller · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32202 44%2,235$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · younger residents
Miami, FL 33135 44%2,467$40,567$418,500$381 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60653 42%1,685$40,666$361,000$197 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Sacramento, CA 95814 42%111$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($219K more) · larger · younger residents
Portland, OR 97205 42%439$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($223K more) · larger · younger residents
Newark, NJ 07102 41%2,385$38,864$431,500$294 larger · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Hialeah, FL 33010 41%2,462$46,553$382,700$306 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
San Bernardino, CA 92401 41%399$26,596$353,700$532 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14202 40%2,119$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents · 10 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32204 40%2,233$65,063$375,000$246 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Miami, FL 33125 40%2,466$44,979$423,100$324 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45203 40%1,874$21,973$356,900$185 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48201 40%1,913$24,749$412,600$323 larger · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 38%2,091$34,897$214,800$211 cheaper homes ($199K less) · larger · younger residents
Roxbury, MA 02119 37%2,516$48,488$688,600$459 pricier homes ($275K more) · larger · younger residents

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.