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 44110

Cleveland: median income $31,928, home value $60,900, $61/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Erie, PA 16503 90%87$32,340$64,600$58 younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53206 85%341$29,336$83,400$59 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14611 84%229$31,376$82,400$88 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48238 82%99$33,315$64,800$46 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14621 79%231$35,383$90,700$100 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Erie, PA 16502 78%85$38,566$93,000$84 pricier homes ($32K more)
Muncie, IN 47305 77%221$36,389$77,800$71 smaller
Erie, PA 16507 76%86$33,361$66,400$85 smaller · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14613 75%230$37,778$120,600$84 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
Gary, IN 46402 75%298$33,529$85,400$60 smaller · more single-family homes · less walkable
Highland Park, MI 48203 75%98$38,404$76,200$70 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Rockford, IL 61104 75%389$33,772$90,100$100 pricier homes ($29K more) · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63107 75%498$43,625$64,400$49 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14211 74%169$36,300$106,400$99 pricier homes ($46K more)
Detroit, MI 48211 74%94$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents · more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13205 73%295$38,497$99,000$73 pricier homes ($38K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 73%167$45,646$79,400$83 smaller
Wichita, KS 67214 73%877$35,192$76,200$84 more single-family homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14301 70%167$34,549$83,900$86 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63115 70%499$30,622$75,600$29 older residents
Elmira, NY 14901 69%248$40,989$93,800$65 pricier homes ($33K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Braddock, PA 15104 69%120$40,104$66,800$42 smaller · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Terre Haute, IN 47807 69%338$24,706$71,200$46 younger residents
Detroit, MI 48204 69%98$34,468$59,200$55 7 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63120 69%500$35,176$53,500$44 smaller · 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.