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 Windsor Heights, IA 50324

Windsor Heights: median income $91,707, home value $267,900, $194/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 86%467$81,226$321,600$199 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Sherrill, NY 13461 85%929$88,750$226,900$196 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74114 85%397$98,222$308,700$194 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13214 84%905$98,000$236,000$196 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13219 84%897$85,149$188,000$208 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14223 83%765$84,161$216,500$213 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13224 82%903$76,500$218,900$197 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63126 82%275$98,852$306,300$207 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Clawson, MI 48017 81%545$88,812$267,500$208 larger · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Minoa, NY 13116 80%908$95,506$179,400$194 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 6 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 80%716$90,703$243,500$194 larger · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 79%719$85,542$233,900$199 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Springfield, MA 01118 78%1,088$80,250$275,100$242 larger · 7 min longer commute
New Hartford, NY 13413 78%945$95,261$240,400$206 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45429 78%518$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Madison, WI 53716 78%246$91,716$356,800$254 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Northfield, NJ 08225 77%1,016$111,599$316,200$285 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12205 77%1,019$91,020$276,600$245 larger
Rochester, NY 14617 77%828$90,192$194,300$174 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Charleston, WV 25304 77%680$80,931$233,500$123 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44126 77%613$79,269$239,000$200 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55422 77%236$93,914$325,900$199 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 77%203$77,292$276,100$174 larger · more renters
Omaha, NE 68124 77%124$98,750$301,400$185 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Camillus, NY 13031 76%895$88,224$218,300$216 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute

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.