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 14219

Buffalo: median income $78,569, home value $192,900, $183/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 91%169$85,542$233,900$199 pricier homes ($41K more)
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 90%321$81,205$258,800$226 pricier homes ($66K more) · younger residents
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 89%173$69,099$184,900$165 larger
Vandalia, OH 45377 89%343$77,398$202,800$164 younger residents
Janesville, WI 53548 89%523$76,869$234,900$164 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Barre, VT 05641 88%332$76,855$253,200$203 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Pennsville, NJ 08070 88%277$75,697$214,700$200 younger residents
Carnegie, PA 15106 88%177$77,247$194,800$180 larger
Old Forge, PA 18518 87%186$71,812$174,400$148 less walkable
Wilmington, DE 19804 87%270$79,701$264,100$219 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · younger residents
Wickliffe, OH 44092 87%158$70,801$175,600$166 larger · younger residents
Janesville, WI 53545 87%518$73,889$220,700$168 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Palmyra, NJ 08065 86%275$89,574$234,800$213 pricier homes ($42K more)
Natrona Heights, PA 15065 86%155$67,803$159,400$152 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Pen Argyl, PA 18072 86%227$80,716$253,100$176 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
North Olmsted, OH 44070 86%184$84,363$219,800$177 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Dayton, OH 45415 86%348$81,176$188,600$121 Very close on everything we compare
Highland, IN 46322 86%450$78,062$233,300$168 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
North East, PA 16428 85%65$78,675$193,300$168 less walkable
Eastlake, OH 44095 85%155$71,543$169,700$170 larger · more single-family homes
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 85%458$73,427$235,700$216 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · younger residents
Bridgeton, MO 63044 85%667$77,819$238,100$165 pricier homes ($45K more) · newer homes
East Hartford, CT 06118 84%326$79,740$229,200$241 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Oakville, CT 06779 84%305$95,798$277,000$256 pricier homes ($84K more)
West Mifflin, PA 15122 84%176$72,485$151,400$143 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more single-family 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.