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.

Reset

Towns most like Erie, PA 16503

Erie: median income $32,340, home value $64,600, $58/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14611 91%142$31,376$82,400$88 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44110 90%87$31,928$60,900$61 older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53206 88%405$29,336$83,400$59 7 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67214 85%962$35,192$76,200$84 newer homes
Detroit, MI 48238 83%158$33,315$64,800$46 larger · 7 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44108 82%89$34,745$67,700$67 older residents · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48211 82%153$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63120 81%586$35,176$53,500$44 smaller · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44103 80%91$27,047$80,500$47 older residents
Rochester, NY 14621 79%145$35,383$90,700$100 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Terre Haute, IN 47807 79%425$24,706$71,200$46 younger residents · newer homes
Toledo, OH 43609 78%184$42,313$65,500$73 more single-family homes
Canton, OH 44703 78%114$31,957$81,200$88 smaller · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43605 77%180$39,118$49,700$63 larger · more single-family homes
Gary, IN 46402 77%376$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64127 77%787$33,111$91,200$94 pricier homes ($27K more) · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14211 76%83$36,300$106,400$99 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Mansfield, OH 44902 76%158$31,343$62,300$56 smaller · less walkable
Highland Park, MI 48203 76%157$38,404$76,200$70 older residents · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14613 75%143$37,778$120,600$84 pricier homes ($56K more)
Dayton, OH 45405 75%270$43,973$84,200$74 older residents
Cleveland, OH 44105 74%93$40,906$61,400$65 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45403 74%269$38,323$87,500$109 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13205 73%209$38,497$99,000$73 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · newer homes
Peoria, IL 61603 73%502$41,618$77,500$58 more homeowners · more single-family 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.