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 44144

Cleveland: median income $60,223, home value $149,900, $161/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14606 96%239$55,807$158,400$160 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40505 94%274$58,206$179,200$170 pricier homes ($29K more)
Louisville, KY 40213 92%308$55,897$173,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, MO 64052 92%689$59,007$150,600$139 younger residents
Rome, NY 13440 91%344$68,207$169,100$157 larger
Auburn, NY 13021 90%284$60,712$180,700$144 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 90%179$53,359$140,800$135 younger residents
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 90%1,296$57,742$184,700$143 pricier homes ($35K more)
Fulton, NY 13069 89%302$63,113$121,900$145 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Oneida, NY 13421 89%331$65,752$162,000$136 smaller
Utica, NY 13502 89%352$57,835$158,000$154 larger · younger residents
Homestead, PA 15120 89%120$55,714$132,400$153 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, MD 21502 89%198$60,725$153,700$113 larger · more homeowners
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 89%181$52,253$133,100$156 smaller
Clarksville, IN 47129 89%304$56,185$170,600$139 newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50315 89%614$60,590$173,200$187 larger · younger residents
Fort Dodge, IA 50501 89%643$66,888$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux City, IA 51103 89%757$58,197$142,900$138 younger residents
Joliet, IL 60433 89%327$66,515$172,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63114 89%493$55,870$116,800$148 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Independence, MO 64050 89%687$48,834$145,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13209 88%303$68,138$161,400$190 smaller
New Brighton, PA 15066 88%89$63,836$153,300$135 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136 88%109$69,099$184,900$165 pricier homes ($35K more)
Racine, WI 53403 88%323$59,820$176,000$188 pricier homes ($26K 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.