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 61606

Peoria: median income $39,196, home value $142,700, $67/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45402 71%293$48,401$135,700$79 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16502 69%502$38,566$93,000$84 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40208 67%267$39,560$188,900$136 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50314 67%218$39,950$147,900$140 larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14208 66%575$48,476$130,200$101 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16507 66%503$33,361$66,400$85 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Duluth, MN 55806 65%438$42,833$161,400$150 older residents
Detroit, MI 48216 64%356$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($100K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45410 63%295$46,651$110,600$99 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64124 63%283$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Syracuse, NY 13204 62%709$45,351$113,000$106 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Montgomery, AL 36104 61%604$33,823$172,700$104 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Jackson, MS 39202 60%580$38,554$222,100$135 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45216 59%291$44,099$155,300$120 older residents · 9 min longer commute · less walkable
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 59%236$39,344$111,300$106 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13205 58%710$38,497$99,000$73 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14211 58%576$36,300$106,400$99 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Harrisburg, PA 17103 58%670$39,825$137,900$90 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Evansville, IN 47713 58%219$40,873$95,900$80 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · less walkable
Lansing, MI 48912 58%298$54,429$150,200$123 larger · older residents · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53210 58%184$48,217$174,400$100 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, KS 66101 58%287$42,551$106,300$123 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14207 57%573$39,753$133,600$103 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14608 56%638$40,646$187,000$97 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Roanoke, VA 24016 56%570$46,512$119,700$129 larger · older residents · more renters

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.