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 44108

Cleveland: median income $34,745, home value $67,700, $67/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Highland Park, MI 48203 94%98$38,404$76,200$70 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48238 90%99$33,315$64,800$46 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48204 89%97$34,468$59,200$55 Very close on everything we compare
Mckeesport, PA 15132 84%123$35,397$73,900$78 more single-family homes
Elmira, NY 14901 82%250$40,989$93,800$65 pricier homes ($26K more) · less walkable
Erie, PA 16503 82%89$32,340$64,600$58 younger residents · more renters
Detroit, MI 48211 82%94$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13205 81%297$38,497$99,000$73 pricier homes ($31K more) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14211 81%171$36,300$106,400$99 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48215 80%90$33,812$111,000$98 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63113 80%498$39,913$81,600$48 smaller · older residents
Rochester, NY 14611 79%231$31,376$82,400$88 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Detroit, MI 48206 79%96$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($49K more)
Detroit, MI 48213 79%93$34,003$56,200$42 more single-family homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 78%170$45,646$79,400$83 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Erie, PA 16502 78%87$38,566$93,000$84 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38114 78%635$34,206$82,000$90 more single-family homes · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40212 78%317$35,753$87,600$80 more single-family homes
Gary, IN 46402 78%296$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
River Rouge, MI 48218 78%94$41,033$65,200$72 smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63107 78%496$43,625$64,400$49 smaller · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64127 77%701$33,111$91,200$94 more single-family homes
Braddock, PA 15104 76%120$40,104$66,800$42 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67214 76%875$35,192$76,200$84 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14301 75%170$34,549$83,900$86 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter 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.