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 Cumberland, MD 21502

Cumberland: median income $60,725, home value $153,700, $113/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Dodge, IA 50501 95%823$66,888$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Clinton, IA 52732 95%615$61,105$122,100$95 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Pekin, IL 61554 95%573$65,194$127,600$107 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Burlington, IA 52601 92%652$60,983$124,200$101 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Rome, NY 13440 91%306$68,207$169,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Niagara Falls, NY 14304 91%241$66,660$164,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Altoona, PA 16602 91%67$55,046$125,700$93 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Sandusky, OH 44870 91%239$62,082$163,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Marshalltown, IA 50158 91%754$70,367$140,700$124 younger residents
Mason City, IA 50401 91%782$66,072$146,500$123 7 min shorter commute
Altoona, PA 16601 90%68$58,070$147,200$88 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44125 90%194$57,363$116,500$127 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Dayton, OH 45414 90%285$54,485$182,300$145 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63125 90%619$61,624$178,600$155 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, NY 13021 89%259$60,712$180,700$144 pricier homes ($27K more)
Rochester, NY 14606 89%254$55,807$158,400$160 smaller
Uniontown, PA 15401 89%51$53,925$155,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43611 89%284$62,042$132,000$145 smaller · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44144 89%198$60,223$149,900$161 smaller · more renters
Southgate, MI 48195 89%290$66,118$173,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Bay City, MI 48706 89%382$62,747$155,800$129 less walkable
Lansing, MI 48906 89%369$64,315$139,700$132 smaller · younger residents
Muscatine, IA 52761 89%653$62,098$170,600$162 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, MO 64055 89%831$62,439$176,700$142 newer homes
Fulton, NY 13069 88%287$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller

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.