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 13205

Syracuse: median income $38,497, home value $99,000, $73/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45405 92%473$43,973$84,200$74 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45406 89%475$41,796$85,000$88 more single-family homes
Jackson, MS 39206 88%1,060$42,686$117,400$65 newer homes
Toledo, OH 43607 88%392$41,335$75,900$77 younger residents · more single-family homes
Highland Park, MI 48203 87%355$38,404$76,200$70 6 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16502 86%210$38,566$93,000$84 younger residents · older homes
Memphis, TN 38114 85%920$34,206$82,000$90 more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44128 84%297$43,993$98,500$98 6 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48215 84%348$33,812$111,000$98 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67211 84%1,171$44,120$109,400$95 more single-family homes
Birmingham, AL 35211 83%877$34,884$96,200$75 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38107 83%918$35,265$152,000$83 pricier homes ($53K more) · 5 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38116 83%924$42,183$138,600$90 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · newer homes
Flint, MI 48503 83%381$44,411$83,800$65 more single-family homes
Kansas City, KS 66101 83%997$42,551$106,300$123 smaller
Wichita, KS 67214 83%1,170$35,192$76,200$84 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67218 83%1,169$49,059$122,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 83%1,586$41,045$88,400$93 smaller
Fort Smith, AR 72901 82%1,108$42,851$118,100$113 less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44108 81%297$34,745$67,700$67 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Evansville, IN 47713 81%693$40,873$95,900$80 smaller · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45403 80%472$38,323$87,500$109 8 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35204 78%874$35,420$89,300$42 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44109 78%304$42,872$122,200$124 larger · older homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 78%992$46,731$98,600$114 smaller · older homes

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.