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 Detroit, MI 48206

Detroit: median income $45,046, home value $116,300, $53/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44119 83%97$44,077$117,100$97 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63113 83%454$39,913$81,600$48 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Elmira, NY 14901 81%323$40,989$93,800$65 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15210 80%211$52,169$98,600$76 larger · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44108 79%96$34,745$67,700$67 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Cleveland, OH 44120 79%100$47,126$111,400$84 larger
Syracuse, NY 13205 76%356$38,497$99,000$73 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Plymouth, PA 18651 76%377$41,990$97,600$79 smaller · less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44105 76%100$40,906$61,400$65 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Akron, OH 44302 76%120$42,400$134,300$79 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Sharon, PA 16146 74%156$45,670$78,800$54 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35204 74%645$35,420$89,300$42 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dayton, OH 45405 74%188$43,973$84,200$74 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Dayton, OH 45410 74%190$46,651$110,600$99 younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63111 74%458$47,039$128,400$101 younger residents · more renters
Hornell, NY 14843 73%278$57,874$112,100$76 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 73%217$47,730$90,400$85 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44128 73%103$43,993$98,500$98 larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63107 73%452$43,625$64,400$49 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 72%212$45,646$79,400$83 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Braddock, PA 15104 72%216$40,104$66,800$42 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Turtle Creek, PA 15145 72%218$49,628$113,700$100 smaller · older residents · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14206 71%221$50,450$125,100$122 5 min shorter commute
Mckeesport, PA 15132 71%219$35,397$73,900$78 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Louisville, KY 40212 71%317$35,753$87,600$80 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more single-family 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.