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 44111

Cleveland: median income $57,252, home value $141,800, $145/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14609 93%246$64,603$161,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, NY 13502 92%354$57,835$158,000$154 newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 91%175$52,154$154,200$147 smaller · newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 91%177$58,685$153,200$128 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46203 90%256$57,393$168,200$137 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Racine, WI 53403 90%320$59,820$176,000$188 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68104 90%736$60,549$168,100$158 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14206 89%181$50,450$125,100$122 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63116 89%490$61,433$174,100$177 pricier homes ($32K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46219 88%252$60,803$184,900$118 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Lansing, MI 48910 88%166$54,712$129,000$130 newer homes
Sioux City, IA 51103 88%755$58,197$142,900$138 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63114 88%492$55,870$116,800$148 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68108 88%733$53,609$159,700$168 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73107 88%947$56,873$159,300$147 smaller · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78210 88%1,251$55,028$189,400$174 pricier homes ($48K more) · 5 min longer commute
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 87%181$51,004$126,000$117 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46201 87%255$49,195$170,100$103 pricier homes ($28K more)
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 87%223$61,461$199,300$188 pricier homes ($58K more) · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74112 87%843$58,951$160,800$153 smaller · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13206 86%311$63,136$148,700$163 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Homestead, PA 15120 86%123$55,714$132,400$153 smaller · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 86%177$53,359$140,800$135 smaller · newer homes
Independence, MO 64052 86%687$59,007$150,600$139 smaller · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14218 85%179$54,748$150,200$167 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · newer 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.