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 Syracuse, NY 13202

Syracuse: median income $27,000, home value $88,500, $202/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44115 78%302$22,056$178,000$205 pricier homes ($90K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53233 71%595$23,750$137,500$146 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · younger residents
Lincoln, NE 68508 69%1,065$31,191$143,600$329 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · younger residents
Lansing, MI 48933 64%426$33,589$112,900$83 smaller
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 64%792$35,060$157,100$198 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, MA 01103 61%192$21,355$185,700$172 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · older residents
Toledo, OH 43604 60%388$20,734$64,800$175 older residents · more single-family homes
Minneapolis, MN 55454 57%858$23,100$186,600$127 pricier homes ($98K more) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Worcester, MA 01608 56%227$45,687$153,600$252 pricier homes ($65K more) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 55%267$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38105 53%921$34,015$90,200$92 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38126 53%922$30,071$59,300$122 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Springfield, MO 65806 53%989$28,165$88,600$138 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Camden, NJ 08102 50%220$33,852$84,500$80 older residents · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45219 50%512$35,657$207,900$164 pricier homes ($119K more) · larger · younger residents
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 49%125$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40203 49%603$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63103 47%795$40,943$202,900$124 pricier homes ($114K more) · 8 min longer commute
Lubbock, TX 79401 47%1,531$26,980$105,600$114 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Hartford, CT 06120 46%197$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45214 46%514$27,852$100,500$93 6 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Camden, NJ 08104 45%222$38,170$93,100$158 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40202 45%602$35,584$257,300$258 pricier homes ($169K more) · older residents
Peoria, IL 61602 45%709$33,750$231,000$103 pricier homes ($143K more) · smaller
Springfield, MA 01105 44%193$24,036$217,800$136 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.