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 Pittsburgh, PA 15204

Pittsburgh: median income $59,420, home value $119,600, $103/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Syracuse, NY 13207 88%268$60,720$123,800$118 8 min shorter commute
Belleville, IL 62220 86%545$65,952$157,400$112 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Lansing, MI 48915 84%281$54,465$122,900$121 8 min shorter commute
Park Forest, IL 60466 84%404$61,654$115,200$128 larger · newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 83%269$58,685$153,200$128 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48221 83%210$57,878$154,600$100 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Rochester, NY 14619 82%223$68,333$134,700$129 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Harper Woods, MI 48225 82%202$61,750$153,800$102 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Independence, MO 64054 82%768$59,719$117,600$140 smaller
Sioux City, IA 51103 81%857$58,197$142,900$138 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 80%191$51,004$126,000$117 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Frostburg, MD 21532 80%82$63,690$182,400$114 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45218 80%250$71,000$179,900$137 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Dayton, OH 45420 80%221$60,588$131,300$153 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Beech Grove, IN 46107 80%323$56,799$181,100$126 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46225 80%326$55,190$162,400$132 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents · more renters
Whiting, IN 46394 80%396$66,176$173,200$136 pricier homes ($54K more) · less walkable
Lansing, MI 48906 79%282$64,315$139,700$132 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64123 79%772$54,443$129,300$111 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Mount Morris, NY 14510 78%191$61,713$104,700$94 smaller · less walkable
Dayton, KY 41074 78%252$66,087$164,300$157 pricier homes ($45K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
South Bend, IN 46615 78%331$62,964$139,600$146 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Duluth, MN 55808 78%744$62,031$174,200$160 pricier homes ($55K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 77%271$52,253$133,100$156 newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44119 76%110$44,077$117,100$97 larger · older residents · more renters

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.