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 Cleveland, OH 44103

Cleveland: median income $27,047, home value $80,500, $47/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53206 83%339$29,336$83,400$59 younger residents
Erie, PA 16503 80%91$32,340$64,600$58 younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63115 79%495$30,622$75,600$29 more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48238 74%98$33,315$64,800$46 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14611 73%233$31,376$82,400$88 younger residents · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14605 70%236$21,201$82,700$76 younger residents · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48211 69%94$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35204 68%621$35,420$89,300$42 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Muncie, IN 47305 68%216$36,389$77,800$71 smaller · less walkable
Terre Haute, IN 47807 68%334$24,706$71,200$46 younger residents · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63107 68%494$43,625$64,400$49 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14613 67%235$37,778$120,600$84 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Gary, IN 46402 67%295$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14301 66%172$34,549$83,900$86 older residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63113 66%496$39,913$81,600$48 older residents · more homeowners
Erie, PA 16502 65%90$38,566$93,000$84 younger residents
Rochester, NY 14621 64%236$35,383$90,700$100 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Braddock, PA 15104 64%120$40,104$66,800$42 smaller · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Birmingham, AL 35218 64%624$30,739$92,600$58 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Pitcairn, PA 15140 63%124$36,419$59,300$35 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13205 62%299$38,497$99,000$73 more homeowners · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14211 62%173$36,300$106,400$99 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Philadelphia, PA 19133 62%356$31,034$89,500$73 larger · 11 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Camden, NJ 08102 61%358$33,852$84,500$80 smaller · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Highland Park, MI 48203 61%98$38,404$76,200$70 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.