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 Rochester, NY 14607

Rochester: median income $59,787, home value $350,100, $171/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63108 93%730$55,147$372,200$213 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44113 85%240$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($51K less)
New Haven, CT 06511 83%270$59,969$353,000$247 larger
Kansas City, MO 64111 83%927$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 79%454$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lafayette, IN 47901 78%515$47,206$256,500$144 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45220 76%454$53,440$402,900$200 pricier homes ($53K more) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55408 75%788$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99204 75%1,936$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68102 74%946$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 73%779$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55405 73%789$73,053$467,700$244 pricier homes ($118K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 72%225$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 71%387$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44106 71%234$43,170$255,700$144 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 6 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21231 70%272$85,254$350,100$226 higher income ($25K more) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23517 70%439$67,375$386,600$214 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63101 70%727$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 70%1,185$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 69%222$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Columbus, OH 43202 69%354$69,524$341,400$264 more homeowners · more single-family homes · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55403 69%788$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 69%926$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23219 68%387$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
New Orleans, LA 70119 68%1,142$53,143$371,000$195 larger · older residents · more homeowners

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.