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 Dayton, OH 45432

Dayton: median income $83,115, home value $183,300, $168/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dearborn, MI 48124 93%182$81,796$204,200$170 larger
Boone, IA 50036 93%536$79,255$194,400$171 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13212 91%474$81,085$169,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14622 91%414$75,439$170,600$189 older residents
Syracuse, NY 13219 90%467$85,149$188,000$208 Very close on everything we compare
Whitesboro, NY 13492 90%511$82,173$207,900$192 Very close on everything we compare
Reading, PA 19609 90%430$82,576$247,300$188 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
South Bend, IN 46614 90%173$74,153$187,500$145 larger
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 89%306$81,540$219,500$158 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Allen Park, MI 48101 89%180$81,655$183,700$145 larger
Marshall, MI 49068 89%181$80,857$214,800$170 pricier homes ($32K more) · less walkable
Washington, IL 61571 89%289$90,386$204,300$133 larger · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64505 89%571$73,298$191,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67204 89%728$71,999$163,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
Vestal, NY 13850 88%451$83,403$194,100$153 larger
Rochester, NY 14617 88%413$90,192$194,300$174 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14624 88%404$87,989$184,700$181 larger · newer homes
Grove City, PA 16127 88%232$72,429$213,700$191 pricier homes ($30K more)
Livonia, MI 48150 88%185$97,997$239,700$175 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Negaunee, MI 49866 88%499$85,019$212,300$165 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · less walkable
Beaver Falls, PA 15010 87%209$71,200$192,900$156 larger · 5 min longer commute
Clairton, PA 15025 87%223$76,531$227,800$187 pricier homes ($45K more) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
North East, PA 16428 87%279$78,675$193,300$168 more apartments and townhomes
Erie, PA 16511 87%270$74,102$172,300$152 more apartments and townhomes
New Cumberland, PA 17070 87%383$88,000$253,700$163 pricier homes ($70K more) · more apartments and townhomes

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.