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 Heights, IL 61616

Peoria Heights: median income $60,099, home value $117,700, $145/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Erie, PA 16504 90%502$56,622$116,400$125 larger
Erie, PA 16508 90%500$56,391$132,500$122 larger
Syracuse, NY 13207 87%707$60,720$123,800$118 larger · older homes
Louisville, KY 40213 87%272$55,897$173,600$169 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Topeka, KS 66606 87%345$57,169$130,600$115 larger
West Burlington, IA 52655 86%84$52,500$132,600$140 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13211 85%710$66,724$121,600$169 more homeowners
Cayce, SC 29033 85%661$61,237$163,800$167 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15223 84%505$61,083$166,300$160 pricier homes ($49K more) · 8 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45420 84%296$60,588$131,300$153 larger
Dunbar, WV 25064 83%448$57,263$119,900$116 larger · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43611 83%323$62,042$132,000$145 larger
Syracuse, NY 13209 82%703$68,138$161,400$190 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Oneida, NY 13421 82%733$65,752$162,000$136 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Ambridge, PA 15003 82%491$59,550$134,500$116 larger · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Sioux City, IA 51103 82%374$58,197$142,900$138 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · younger residents
Oskaloosa, IA 52577 82%164$66,084$163,300$116 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · newer homes
Burlington, IA 52601 82%81$60,983$124,200$101 larger
Duluth, MN 55807 82%434$62,067$177,500$176 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older homes
Topeka, KS 66604 82%346$60,874$139,100$123 larger
Omaha, NE 68112 82%335$56,159$151,300$138 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74112 82%467$58,951$160,800$153 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 82%1,003$57,742$184,700$143 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Rochester, NY 14619 81%634$68,333$134,700$129 larger · older homes
Homestead, PA 15120 81%508$55,714$132,400$153 larger · 9 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.