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 Rochester, NY 14605

Rochester: median income $21,201, home value $82,700, $76/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44104 84%236$24,111$69,300$69 larger · 9 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45225 81%456$20,348$103,100$66 more renters · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45214 80%457$27,852$100,500$93 older homes
Terre Haute, IN 47807 79%569$24,706$71,200$46 younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44103 70%236$27,047$80,500$47 older residents · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45232 70%453$28,367$130,500$87 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Toledo, OH 43604 68%320$20,734$64,800$175 older residents
Cleveland, OH 44110 68%231$31,928$60,900$61 older residents · older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53206 68%521$29,336$83,400$59 larger · 8 min longer commute · older homes
North Little Rock, AR 72114 68%976$30,175$130,000$85 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents · newer homes
Akron, OH 44311 67%248$24,369$68,800$61 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53205 67%521$31,529$124,200$96 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Toledo, OH 43620 66%321$23,483$131,300$67 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older homes
Camden, NJ 08102 64%257$33,852$84,500$80 more apartments and townhomes
Erie, PA 16503 64%144$32,340$64,600$58 more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Augusta, GA 30901 64%711$25,163$104,000$109 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Erie, PA 16507 63%145$33,361$66,400$85 older homes
Akron, OH 44307 63%249$27,697$85,500$95 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45204 61%459$31,236$95,400$121 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
El Paso, TX 79901 61%1,757$14,872$91,400$70 older residents · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Memphis, TN 38126 60%866$30,071$59,300$122 smaller · more renters · newer homes
Canton, OH 44703 56%254$31,957$81,200$88 more single-family homes · less walkable · older homes
Memphis, TN 38105 55%865$34,015$90,200$92 smaller · older residents · more renters
Shreveport, LA 71101 55%1,145$19,351$84,900$50 smaller · older residents · less walkable
El Paso, TX 79905 55%1,754$25,721$106,800$132 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.