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 Niagara Falls, NY 14303

Niagara Falls: median income $45,646, home value $79,400, $83/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45405 87%352$43,973$84,200$74 larger
Muncie, IN 47305 85%384$36,389$77,800$71 smaller
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 84%190$47,730$90,400$85 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16502 83%86$38,566$93,000$84 larger · younger residents
Minersville, PA 17954 80%219$53,806$83,300$64 more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Kansas City, KS 66101 80%855$42,551$106,300$123 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 79%849$46,731$98,600$114 larger · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44108 78%170$34,745$67,700$67 larger · 5 min longer commute
Highland Park, MI 48203 78%211$38,404$76,200$70 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Roanoke, VA 24013 77%405$51,290$121,300$104 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 77%1,473$41,045$88,400$93 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45403 76%351$38,323$87,500$109 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Sioux City, IA 51105 76%879$51,786$96,200$120 larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63113 76%660$39,913$81,600$48 larger · older residents
East Chicago, IN 46312 75%442$42,125$105,400$101 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63107 75%658$43,625$64,400$49 10 min longer commute
Turtle Creek, PA 15145 74%189$49,628$113,700$100 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Plymouth, PA 18651 74%203$41,990$97,600$79 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45402 74%352$48,401$135,700$79 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44110 73%167$31,928$60,900$61 larger
Dayton, OH 45404 73%350$38,874$86,900$119 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45410 72%352$46,651$110,600$99 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48206 72%212$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63111 72%664$47,039$128,400$101 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64124 72%851$46,241$112,000$130 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents

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.