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 44105

Cleveland: median income $40,906, home value $61,400, $65/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Highland Park, MI 48203 93%101$38,404$76,200$70 smaller
Detroit, MI 48204 92%101$34,468$59,200$55 smaller
Mckeesport, PA 15132 89%119$35,397$73,900$78 smaller
Detroit, MI 48238 87%102$33,315$64,800$46 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40212 84%313$35,753$87,600$80 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Detroit, MI 48213 84%96$34,003$56,200$42 smaller
Detroit, MI 48227 83%104$36,527$75,100$60 more single-family homes
River Rouge, MI 48218 82%96$41,033$65,200$72 smaller · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63136 81%494$41,154$84,400$80 newer homes
Detroit, MI 48209 80%97$43,161$89,000$87 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Flint, MI 48503 80%151$44,411$83,800$65 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 80%700$36,088$84,600$71 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48210 79%99$37,838$67,800$81 younger residents
Peoria, IL 61603 79%417$41,618$77,500$58 smaller · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Braddock, PA 15104 78%117$40,104$66,800$42 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38114 78%631$34,206$82,000$90 smaller · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48235 78%105$39,265$90,000$85 pricier homes ($29K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38108 77%626$36,257$71,200$72 smaller · more single-family homes · newer homes
Anderson, IN 46016 77%232$36,029$78,500$46 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48234 77%100$35,322$61,200$54 younger residents · more single-family homes · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64127 77%700$33,111$91,200$94 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40211 76%314$31,749$100,400$83 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Detroit, MI 48206 76%100$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Detroit, MI 48224 76%95$44,856$88,700$68 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63113 76%495$39,913$81,600$48 smaller · older residents

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.