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 14621

Rochester: median income $35,383, home value $90,700, $100/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45403 89%413$38,323$87,500$109 smaller
Erie, PA 16502 86%147$38,566$93,000$84 smaller · older homes
Kansas City, KS 66101 85%927$42,551$106,300$123 smaller
Wichita, KS 67214 85%1,100$35,192$76,200$84 smaller · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64127 84%924$33,111$91,200$94 smaller · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78207 83%1,496$32,472$106,700$97 larger · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44109 82%241$42,872$122,200$124 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Dayton, OH 45405 82%415$43,973$84,200$74 smaller · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45205 81%459$43,682$127,900$106 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Rockford, IL 61104 81%585$33,772$90,100$100 smaller · less walkable · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35211 80%836$34,884$96,200$75 more single-family homes · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44102 80%242$42,714$113,400$126 older homes
Dayton, OH 45404 80%412$38,874$86,900$119 smaller · more single-family homes
East Chicago, IN 46312 80%514$42,125$105,400$101 less walkable · older homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 80%411$34,381$85,200$96 smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48215 80%277$33,812$111,000$98 smaller · more homeowners
Erie, PA 16503 79%145$32,340$64,600$58 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older homes
Memphis, TN 38116 79%870$42,183$138,600$90 pricier homes ($48K more) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44110 79%231$31,928$60,900$61 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53218 79%523$45,642$133,400$139 pricier homes ($43K more)
Little Rock, AR 72209 79%985$40,231$98,800$95 more single-family homes · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79930 79%1,754$42,099$135,000$134 pricier homes ($44K more)
Memphis, TN 38114 78%866$34,206$82,000$90 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Canton, OH 44703 78%254$31,957$81,200$88 smaller · less walkable · older homes
Huntsville, AL 35805 77%759$35,385$137,800$142 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 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.