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 52403

Cedar Rapids: median income $74,703, home value $206,900, $128/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45429 91%421$80,210$238,700$166 pricier homes ($32K more)
East Syracuse, NY 13057 89%795$80,900$169,800$177 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Erie, PA 16505 89%588$72,938$211,700$169 older residents
Erie, PA 16511 88%595$74,102$172,300$152 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45415 88%412$81,176$188,600$121 smaller
Syracuse, NY 13212 87%792$81,085$169,200$191 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15209 87%613$85,542$233,900$199 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Johnstown, PA 15904 87%674$67,394$176,200$124 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 87%697$81,540$219,500$158 smaller · less walkable
New Cumberland, PA 17070 87%777$88,000$253,700$163 pricier homes ($47K more)
Buffalo, NY 14223 86%654$84,161$216,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14622 86%720$75,439$170,600$189 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Rockford, IL 61107 86%134$78,574$175,400$133 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable
Fairview Heights, IL 62208 86%249$80,205$176,000$134 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Belleville, IL 62223 86%252$73,700$159,400$116 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 7 min longer commute
Tonawanda, NY 14150 85%654$71,406$200,700$205 larger
Rochester, NY 14617 85%718$90,192$194,300$174 Very close on everything we compare
Beaver, PA 15009 85%592$88,294$261,000$187 pricier homes ($54K more) · 6 min longer commute
Du Bois, PA 15801 85%668$67,583$181,800$151 cheaper homes ($25K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Roanoke, VA 24014 85%702$70,381$266,100$172 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Berea, OH 44017 85%505$75,231$198,400$170 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
North Olmsted, OH 44070 85%502$84,363$219,800$177 6 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45432 85%423$83,115$183,300$168 younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13219 84%787$85,149$188,000$208 smaller
Niagara Falls, NY 14304 84%648$66,660$164,000$174 cheaper homes ($43K less)

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.