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 48215

Detroit: median income $33,812, home value $111,000, $98/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45403 90%191$38,323$87,500$109 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64127 87%647$33,111$91,200$94 larger
Dayton, OH 45404 86%190$38,874$86,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14211 85%213$36,300$106,400$99 larger · older homes
Memphis, TN 38107 85%626$35,265$152,000$83 pricier homes ($41K more) · more renters
Louisville, KY 40210 85%323$35,347$98,700$99 more single-family homes
Syracuse, NY 13205 84%348$38,497$99,000$73 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35211 83%650$34,884$96,200$75 larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44119 83%90$44,077$117,100$97 older residents
Hammond, IN 46320 83%240$37,158$135,000$133 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66101 83%651$42,551$106,300$123 6 min shorter commute · more renters
El Paso, TX 79930 83%1,480$42,099$135,000$134 larger
Memphis, TN 38114 82%629$34,206$82,000$90 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40211 82%323$31,749$100,400$83 larger · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44128 81%97$43,993$98,500$98 larger
Euclid, OH 44132 81%92$47,969$125,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68110 81%672$39,813$132,800$122 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14621 80%277$35,383$90,700$100 larger · more renters
Mckeesport, PA 15132 80%213$35,397$73,900$78 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32206 80%834$39,242$173,400$134 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35207 80%644$31,486$80,300$69 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Cleveland, OH 44108 80%90$34,745$67,700$67 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45205 80%241$43,682$127,900$106 larger · younger residents · more renters
Dayton, OH 45406 80%191$41,796$85,000$88 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 80%143$34,381$85,200$96 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 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.