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 48211

Detroit: median income $35,725, home value $78,900, $45/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46402 86%227$33,529$85,400$60 less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63120 85%457$35,176$53,500$44 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more single-family homes
Braddock, PA 15104 82%214$40,104$66,800$42 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16503 82%153$32,340$64,600$58 larger · more renters
Cleveland, OH 44108 82%94$34,745$67,700$67 larger · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44127 77%95$32,572$44,400$29 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Duquesne, PA 15110 75%216$44,180$63,800$40 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35204 75%646$35,420$89,300$42 larger · older residents · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44110 74%94$31,928$60,900$61 larger · older residents · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53206 74%253$29,336$83,400$59 larger · more renters
Elmira, NY 14901 72%319$40,989$93,800$65 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 72%215$47,730$90,400$85 Very close on everything we compare
Pitcairn, PA 15140 72%217$36,419$59,300$35 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Anderson, IN 46016 72%209$36,029$78,500$46 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Peoria, IL 61603 72%357$41,618$77,500$58 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63107 72%456$43,625$64,400$49 larger · older residents
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 71%209$45,646$79,400$83 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Erie, PA 16502 71%152$38,566$93,000$84 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Youngstown, OH 44504 71%151$45,299$77,500$43 9 min shorter commute · less walkable
Robbins, IL 60472 71%245$40,668$121,300$41 pricier homes ($42K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63115 71%456$30,622$75,600$29 larger · older residents
Mansfield, OH 44902 70%116$31,343$62,300$56 more renters · less walkable
Muncie, IN 47305 70%194$36,389$77,800$71 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Rochester, NY 14611 69%279$31,376$82,400$88 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35207 69%643$31,486$80,300$69 more single-family homes · less walkable · newer 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.