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 Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Cedar Rapids: median income $35,060, home value $157,100, $198/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Worcester, MA 01608 75%1,015$45,687$153,600$252 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40202 73%404$35,584$257,300$258 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older residents
Fresno, CA 93721 69%1,538$40,033$243,800$157 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32202 68%978$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 66%615$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Syracuse, NY 13202 64%792$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · younger residents
Memphis, TN 38105 61%480$34,015$90,200$92 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64106 61%250$52,564$238,000$173 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Allentown, PA 18101 60%844$44,773$171,300$136 larger · younger residents · 13 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44115 60%516$22,056$178,000$205 larger · younger residents · older homes
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 58%815$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Peoria, IL 61602 58%139$33,750$231,000$103 pricier homes ($74K more) · smaller · older homes
Lansing, MI 48933 57%366$33,589$112,900$83 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable · older homes
Lincoln, NE 68508 57%273$31,191$143,600$329 larger · younger residents
Hartford, CT 06120 56%974$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Chattanooga, TN 37402 55%588$24,214$268,800$332 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14204 54%655$28,182$152,400$150 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Baltimore, MD 21201 54%808$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Muskegon, MI 49440 54%288$46,808$176,400$193 more homeowners · less walkable · older homes
Huntsville, AL 35816 53%569$40,242$128,900$128 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40203 53%404$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45203 53%423$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($200K more) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55404 53%222$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($135K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55454 53%222$23,100$186,600$127 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63102 52%243$65,527$192,100$146 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($35K more) · 6 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.