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 44126

Cleveland: median income $79,269, home value $239,000, $200/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 95%114$90,703$243,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 95%121$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Kansas City, MO 64114 94%693$81,275$280,900$218 pricier homes ($42K more)
Beaver, PA 15009 93%94$88,294$261,000$187 Very close on everything we compare
Clawson, MI 48017 92%101$88,812$267,500$208 pricier homes ($29K more)
Buffalo, NY 14223 91%187$84,161$216,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Camp Hill, PA 17011 91%271$92,556$277,800$178 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Camillus, NY 13031 90%306$88,224$218,300$216 older residents
Clairton, PA 15025 90%127$76,531$227,800$187 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 90%118$85,542$233,900$199 older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15236 90%124$90,767$233,400$194 larger
Wilmington, DE 19809 90%352$81,288$314,900$217 pricier homes ($76K more)
Des Moines, IA 50310 90%611$76,381$222,700$212 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55422 90%628$93,914$325,900$199 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 90%940$81,226$321,600$199 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Schenectady, NY 12303 89%416$84,375$238,100$226 larger
Buffalo, NY 14226 89%189$84,325$263,800$218 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Carnegie, PA 15106 89%117$77,247$194,800$180 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Ferndale, MI 48220 89%96$89,881$243,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 89%222$74,906$246,700$214 larger · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53222 89%335$76,980$216,600$201 Very close on everything we compare
Shawnee, KS 66203 89%698$75,869$254,900$222 newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13224 88%314$76,500$218,900$197 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Buffalo, NY 14217 88%185$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Monroeville, PA 15146 88%130$79,300$210,000$169 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger

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.