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 Dayton, KY 41074

Dayton: median income $66,087, home value $164,300, $157/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15223 94%258$61,083$166,300$160 Very close on everything we compare
Lynchburg, VA 24504 89%318$52,571$179,700$124 larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 88%255$61,645$185,900$169 larger
Duluth, MN 55808 88%653$62,031$174,200$160 more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45217 87%4$62,200$171,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Oneida, NY 13421 86%535$65,752$162,000$136 larger · older residents
Ambridge, PA 15003 86%248$59,550$134,500$116 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15207 86%257$57,427$150,200$141 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45218 86%11$71,000$179,900$137 smaller · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13206 85%514$63,136$148,700$163 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Syracuse, NY 13207 85%510$60,720$123,800$118 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14619 85%451$68,333$134,700$129 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 85%139$58,685$153,200$128 larger · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55807 85%655$62,067$177,500$176 larger · more homeowners
Paulsboro, NJ 08066 84%495$65,070$200,200$207 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 84%483$71,942$198,100$200 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · newer homes
Homestead, PA 15120 84%258$55,714$132,400$153 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Scranton, PA 18519 84%490$58,500$181,000$142 less walkable
Wickliffe, OH 44092 84%234$70,801$175,600$166 larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44144 84%216$60,223$149,900$161 larger · newer homes
Sioux City, IA 51103 84%667$58,197$142,900$138 larger
East Rochester, NY 14445 83%456$73,625$155,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46225 83%100$55,190$162,400$132 younger residents
Whiting, IN 46394 83%238$66,176$173,200$136 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Belleville, IL 62220 83%300$65,952$157,400$112 larger · 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.