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 44106

Cleveland: median income $43,170, home value $255,700, $144/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48202 90%97$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53212 90%340$47,298$216,300$145 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63112 89%499$45,542$212,700$135 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14201 84%169$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68131 80%744$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 79%299$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14213 78%170$53,870$211,200$116 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Duluth, MN 55805 78%635$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60637 77%310$43,609$257,300$187 larger · 9 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14214 76%173$58,228$240,800$156 more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53208 76%342$52,690$204,500$125 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12206 75%409$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40208 75%317$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hartford, CT 06105 74%460$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($147K more) · older residents
Rochester, NY 14620 74%233$61,783$205,000$179 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Harrisburg, PA 17102 74%261$54,573$193,700$118 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Detroit, MI 48216 74%95$44,335$242,600$106 smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63108 74%498$55,147$372,200$213 pricier homes ($117K more)
New Orleans, LA 70119 74%927$53,143$371,000$195 pricier homes ($115K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Albany, NY 12210 73%410$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19104 73%352$38,814$266,600$187 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
New Haven, CT 06511 72%450$59,969$353,000$247 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Lafayette, IN 47901 72%286$47,206$256,500$144 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Spokane, WA 99201 72%1,796$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older residents
Albany, NY 12202 71%410$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($90K 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.