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.

Reset

Towns most like Niagara Falls, NY 14305

Niagara Falls: median income $51,004, home value $126,000, $117/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 94%343$53,359$140,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 93%341$52,154$154,200$147 pricier homes ($28K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 93%344$58,685$153,200$128 pricier homes ($27K more)
Lansing, MI 48910 93%280$54,712$129,000$130 larger
Saint Ann, MO 63074 92%665$51,610$132,700$153 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45420 91%353$60,588$131,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux City, IA 51103 91%881$58,197$142,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Erie, PA 16504 90%86$56,622$116,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Roanoke, VA 24017 90%405$47,360$150,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfield, AL 35064 90%791$48,692$129,100$92 smaller · newer homes
Steubenville, OH 43952 90%207$47,624$124,300$131 less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44135 90%183$53,848$132,800$154 larger
Lansing, MI 48915 90%281$54,465$122,900$121 smaller · older homes
Wichita, KS 67218 90%1,028$49,059$122,300$118 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44125 89%176$57,363$116,500$127 larger · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46203 89%434$57,393$168,200$137 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Lansing, MI 48906 89%280$64,315$139,700$132 larger
Tulsa, OK 74127 89%1,021$46,373$134,200$126 older residents
Erie, PA 16508 88%88$56,391$132,500$122 more walkable
Memphis, TN 38122 88%801$48,710$123,000$117 larger · 7 min longer commute
Toledo, OH 43612 88%251$50,728$93,800$107 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Beech Grove, IN 46107 88%434$56,799$181,100$126 pricier homes ($55K more)
Evansville, IN 47714 88%570$55,910$133,400$109 larger · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 88%1,120$51,227$172,100$125 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44111 87%181$57,252$141,800$145 larger

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.