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.

Reset

Towns most like Detroit, MI 48216

Detroit: median income $44,335, home value $242,600, $106/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64109 93%642$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63112 88%455$45,542$212,700$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Jackson, MS 39202 84%793$38,554$222,100$135 newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14213 82%217$53,870$211,200$116 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53208 81%253$52,690$204,500$125 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53212 81%250$47,298$216,300$145 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43205 79%164$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Dayton, OH 45402 79%187$48,401$135,700$79 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 79%138$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63118 79%456$57,762$221,200$131 larger
Rochester, NY 14608 78%283$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more renters
Duluth, MN 55806 78%540$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13203 77%356$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · older residents
Columbus, GA 31901 77%689$51,424$226,500$132 older residents · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43203 77%163$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($77K more) · newer homes
Duluth, MN 55805 77%540$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14214 76%220$58,228$240,800$156 larger
Louisville, KY 40208 76%317$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Albany, NY 12206 75%475$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Milwaukee, WI 53210 75%253$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44106 74%95$43,170$255,700$144 larger · more apartments and townhomes
El Paso, TX 79902 74%1,475$50,873$238,500$163 larger · older residents · newer homes
Albany, NY 12202 73%475$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Orleans, LA 70113 73%940$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45223 72%231$49,312$210,100$176 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.