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 Springfield, MA 01103

Springfield: median income $21,355, home value $185,700, $172/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44115 67%469$22,056$178,000$205 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Peoria, IL 61602 62%885$33,750$231,000$103 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13202 61%192$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70112 56%1,283$19,395$391,900$408 pricier homes ($206K more)
Lansing, MI 48933 52%612$33,589$112,900$83 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53233 50%782$23,750$137,500$146 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32202 48%956$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55454 48%1,050$23,100$186,600$127 larger · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45203 47%659$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($171K more) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 47%976$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Charleston, WV 25301 46%543$25,417$196,900$145 older residents · less walkable · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37402 46%841$24,214$268,800$332 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40202 46%743$35,584$257,300$258 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
South Bend, IN 46601 46%703$30,789$145,000$96 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 45%401$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40203 45%744$30,794$197,300$145 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Toledo, OH 43604 45%563$20,734$64,800$175 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45229 43%656$32,263$285,900$133 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · more homeowners
Scranton, PA 18503 42%166$36,107$267,200$185 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45214 42%660$27,852$100,500$93 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48201 42%536$24,749$412,600$323 pricier homes ($227K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63103 42%957$40,943$202,900$124 larger · 8 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14201 41%325$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger · more homeowners
Macon, GA 31201 41%881$29,420$171,400$88 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Toledo, OH 43620 41%564$23,483$131,300$67 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 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.