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 Buffalo, NY 14207

Buffalo: median income $39,753, home value $133,600, $103/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53204 92%456$45,934$124,300$105 larger
Harrisburg, PA 17103 91%213$39,825$137,900$90 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44102 90%178$42,714$113,400$126 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53210 90%458$48,217$174,400$100 pricier homes ($41K more)
Erie, PA 16502 88%84$38,566$93,000$84 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Cleveland, OH 44109 84%177$42,872$122,200$124 more single-family homes
York, PA 17401 83%235$42,826$104,400$93 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Roanoke, VA 24016 82%396$46,512$119,700$129 smaller · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45205 82%397$43,682$127,900$106 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63111 82%666$47,039$128,400$101 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Harrisburg, PA 17104 80%214$46,510$104,800$104 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Duluth, MN 55806 80%699$42,833$161,400$150 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Kansas City, KS 66101 80%860$42,551$106,300$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Hartford, CT 06112 78%326$44,460$208,000$144 pricier homes ($74K more) · newer homes
East Chicago, IN 46312 78%447$42,125$105,400$101 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53208 78%458$52,690$204,500$125 pricier homes ($71K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53216 78%458$46,752$143,400$125 6 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Allentown, PA 18102 77%239$43,085$163,400$147 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45402 77%352$48,401$135,700$79 smaller · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48202 77%216$43,627$186,500$123 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Des Moines, IA 50314 77%758$39,950$147,900$140 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Scranton, PA 18510 76%198$53,235$181,600$117 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · less walkable
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 76%346$46,854$184,800$150 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · newer homes
Camden, NJ 08105 75%286$45,974$121,100$182 newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45214 75%396$27,852$100,500$93 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller

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.