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 Peoria, IL 61602

Peoria: median income $33,750, home value $231,000, $103/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lansing, MI 48933 70%295$33,589$112,900$83 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Lafayette, IN 47901 67%143$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63103 63%146$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Springfield, MA 01103 62%885$21,355$185,700$172 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 58%139$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44114 54%416$44,002$121,900$59 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Muskegon, MI 49440 54%245$46,808$176,400$193 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Tulsa, OK 74119 53%468$56,234$251,700$125 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Schenectady, NY 12305 51%819$53,326$217,500$213 larger · 7 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14201 51%572$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 50%826$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Scranton, PA 18503 50%726$36,107$267,200$185 pricier homes ($36K more) · 17 min longer commute · less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32202 49%843$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70113 49%743$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · older residents
Albany, NY 12210 48%827$55,843$228,100$142 larger · 7 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 48%504$34,897$214,800$211 larger · 12 min longer commute · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35203 48%519$47,434$334,000$274 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more homeowners
Jackson, MS 39202 48%580$38,554$222,100$135 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Little Rock, AR 72202 48%437$50,899$262,500$149 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Montgomery, AL 36104 47%603$33,823$172,700$104 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Harrisburg, PA 17102 46%667$54,573$193,700$118 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44115 46%416$22,056$178,000$205 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48216 46%355$44,335$242,600$106 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Syracuse, NY 13202 45%709$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 45%715$33,329$203,600— cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 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.