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 Utica, NY 13502

Utica: median income $57,835, home value $158,000, $154/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Racine, WI 53403 94%636$59,820$176,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43614 93%441$58,961$168,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Sandusky, OH 44870 93%399$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45211 93%558$53,868$169,500$142 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40214 92%649$54,931$184,600$146 pricier homes ($27K more)
Columbus, OH 43204 92%460$59,266$185,800$162 pricier homes ($28K more)
Columbus, OH 43224 92%452$53,321$170,800$177 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44111 92%354$57,252$141,800$145 older homes
Omaha, NE 68104 92%1,068$60,549$168,100$158 more single-family homes
Kingston, PA 18704 91%131$64,444$162,000$129 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45420 91%517$60,588$131,300$153 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46203 91%609$57,393$168,200$137 more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46219 91%605$60,803$184,900$118 pricier homes ($27K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 91%525$52,154$154,200$147 smaller
Oshkosh, WI 54901 91%669$61,794$177,700$163 younger residents
Amarillo, TX 79106 91%1,522$59,493$174,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsport, PA 17701 90%158$53,237$183,900$127 pricier homes ($26K more) · less walkable
Bedford, OH 44146 90%343$54,925$155,000$146 older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45238 90%561$66,277$183,900$149 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lansing, MI 48910 90%472$54,712$129,000$130 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Des Moines, IA 50315 90%944$60,590$173,200$187 Very close on everything we compare
Sheboygan, WI 53081 90%628$64,042$180,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Oshkosh, WI 54902 90%668$65,612$170,800$180 smaller · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18505 89%121$52,398$156,700$121 smaller
Roanoke, VA 24012 89%471$52,973$184,400$143 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer 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.