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 44120

Cleveland: median income $47,126, home value $111,400, $84/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48206 79%100$45,046$116,300$53 smaller
Utica, NY 13501 76%343$52,548$157,500$106 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14210 74%171$54,197$129,800$116 smaller · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15221 74%115$55,028$171,300$136 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63111 74%500$47,039$128,400$101 smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48214 73%95$33,544$147,300$113 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13203 72%299$46,997$156,900$118 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · more renters
Syracuse, NY 13205 72%298$38,497$99,000$73 smaller · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Wichita, KS 67218 72%875$49,059$122,300$118 younger residents · newer homes
Scranton, PA 18505 71%307$52,398$156,700$121 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46201 71%265$49,195$170,100$103 pricier homes ($59K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Highland Park, MI 48203 71%102$38,404$76,200$70 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Binghamton, NY 13905 70%295$53,362$151,500$108 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Scranton, PA 18509 70%307$51,062$183,700$129 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53209 70%344$48,486$166,700$137 pricier homes ($55K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14206 69%172$50,450$125,100$122 smaller · younger residents
Olean, NY 14760 69%168$54,929$94,600$96 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14215 68%174$44,955$111,600$115 younger residents
Jamestown, NY 14701 68%128$49,685$105,300$104 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14208 67%172$48,476$130,200$101 smaller · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14211 67%173$36,300$106,400$99 younger residents
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702 67%302$56,378$131,900$109 less walkable · newer homes
Lynchburg, VA 24504 67%314$52,571$179,700$124 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Huntington, WV 25701 67%216$56,292$164,300$115 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53210 67%345$48,217$174,400$100 pricier homes ($63K more) · younger 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.