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 Toledo, OH 43610

Toledo: median income $46,469, home value $71,500, $46/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Peoria, IL 61603 83%320$41,618$77,500$58 larger · younger residents
Johnstown, PA 15902 79%261$44,215$65,100$56 larger · less walkable
Sharon, PA 16146 78%161$45,670$78,800$54 larger · less walkable
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 76%404$42,111$68,700$46 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes · newer homes
Glassport, PA 15045 75%213$47,803$82,700$83 9 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35204 75%591$35,420$89,300$42 larger · more renters · newer homes
Montgomery, AL 36105 75%664$41,486$82,400$42 larger · older residents · newer homes
Terre Haute, IN 47804 75%252$40,674$94,200$88 larger
River Rouge, MI 48218 75%46$41,033$65,200$72 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Farrell, PA 16121 74%162$42,595$87,800— less walkable · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35208 74%594$38,561$97,100$55 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · newer homes
Flint, MI 48503 74%93$44,411$83,800$65 larger · newer homes
Johnstown, PA 15906 73%258$43,284$57,100$45 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63120 73%409$35,176$53,500$44 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
East Saint Louis, IL 62205 72%406$45,672$41,800$32 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63133 72%412$39,293$65,100$82 larger · newer homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78407 72%1,237$47,688$98,800$72 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · newer homes
Huntington, WV 25702 71%233$40,708$82,900$76 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 71%605$36,088$84,600$71 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40212 70%264$35,753$87,600$80 larger · 6 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63113 70%410$39,913$81,600$48 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Creighton, PA 15030 69%211$56,094$89,100— smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Highland Park, MI 48203 69%57$38,404$76,200$70 larger · 7 min longer commute
Flint, MI 48504 68%96$38,719$53,500$50 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Dravosburg, PA 15034 67%212$51,715$93,500$84 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute

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.