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 Rochester, NY 14613

Rochester: median income $37,778, home value $120,600, $84/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45205 87%457$43,682$127,900$106 Very close on everything we compare
Erie, PA 16502 86%145$38,566$93,000$84 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63111 84%731$47,039$128,400$101 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisburg, PA 17103 83%205$39,825$137,900$90 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53204 83%519$45,934$124,300$105 larger
Cleveland, OH 44102 82%240$42,714$113,400$126 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53206 82%519$29,336$83,400$59 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53210 82%521$48,217$174,400$100 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45214 81%456$27,852$100,500$93 smaller
Dayton, OH 45403 81%411$38,323$87,500$109 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Rockford, IL 61104 81%584$33,772$90,100$100 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45232 79%451$28,367$130,500$87 smaller
East Chicago, IN 46312 79%512$42,125$105,400$101 larger · less walkable
Kansas City, KS 66101 79%926$42,551$106,300$123 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
York, PA 17401 78%227$42,826$104,400$93 more apartments and townhomes
Cleveland, OH 44109 77%240$42,872$122,200$124 larger · more homeowners
Hammond, IN 46320 77%515$37,158$135,000$133 more single-family homes · less walkable
Canton, OH 44703 76%253$31,957$81,200$88 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45204 76%458$31,236$95,400$121 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · newer homes
Erie, PA 16503 75%143$32,340$64,600$58 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Cleveland, OH 44110 75%230$31,928$60,900$61 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Dayton, OH 45405 75%413$43,973$84,200$74 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48215 75%275$33,812$111,000$98 more homeowners · more single-family homes · newer homes
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 75%408$39,344$111,300$106 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53216 74%521$46,752$143,400$125 larger · more homeowners · newer 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.