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 15214

Pittsburgh: median income $61,645, home value $185,900, $169/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wickliffe, OH 44092 95%108$70,801$175,600$166 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40213 94%343$55,897$173,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13209 92%265$68,138$161,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14609 91%224$64,603$161,600$167 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37411 91%473$56,579$232,300$162 pricier homes ($46K more)
Latonia, KY 41015 91%259$65,683$187,700$156 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45420 91%224$60,588$131,300$153 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Belleville, IL 62220 91%548$65,952$157,400$112 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 90%490$62,411$197,500$171 smaller · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14225 90%181$67,237$170,400$202 larger
Norfolk, VA 23509 90%321$72,816$258,000$211 pricier homes ($72K more)
Toledo, OH 43614 90%204$58,961$168,400$141 larger · newer homes
Beech Grove, IN 46107 90%326$56,799$181,100$126 Very close on everything we compare
Racine, WI 53403 90%430$59,820$176,000$188 larger
Omaha, NE 68104 90%836$60,549$168,100$158 larger
Schenectady, NY 12304 89%353$69,235$179,200$226 larger
Hampton, VA 23661 89%310$65,446$220,500$197 pricier homes ($35K more) · more single-family homes
Cayce, SC 29033 89%454$61,237$163,800$167 newer homes
Lexington, KY 40505 89%291$58,206$179,200$170 larger · newer homes
Toledo, OH 43623 89%207$71,171$169,300$146 newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44129 89%109$70,651$166,400$175 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 89%271$58,685$153,200$128 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53219 89%446$70,388$203,900$211 larger
Superior, WI 54880 89%740$68,275$190,700$170 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Duluth, MN 55807 89%745$62,067$177,500$176 5 min shorter commute · older 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.