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 Roanoke, VA 24015

Roanoke: median income $69,831, home value $267,500, $154/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 96%982$69,827$249,200$186 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux Falls, SD 57105 93%980$77,292$276,100$174 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68502 92%928$68,523$227,300$153 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40217 91%322$69,114$233,800$199 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53222 91%585$76,980$216,600$201 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Lincoln, NE 68510 91%926$65,951$239,700$156 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Buffalo, NY 14217 90%399$73,800$207,500$195 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45227 90%273$71,646$298,800$224 pricier homes ($31K more)
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 89%497$74,906$246,700$214 larger
Omaha, NE 68106 89%899$69,806$217,800$186 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more renters
Syracuse, NY 13224 88%449$76,500$218,900$197 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63139 88%569$75,757$209,600$205 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 87%218$75,611$228,700$190 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 87%225$90,703$243,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43606 87%361$66,917$169,000$130 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Cleveland, OH 44126 87%306$79,269$239,000$200 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45213 87%275$76,356$286,100$212 older homes
Dayton, OH 45429 87%282$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 87%498$70,119$243,500$200 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63109 87%569$69,938$264,700$201 larger · 5 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68132 87%899$68,221$333,900$193 pricier homes ($66K more)
Mobile, AL 36604 86%648$66,357$249,300$170 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45236 86%275$84,037$231,300$214 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46205 86%377$72,417$304,500$135 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64131 86%801$64,201$234,200$175 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 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.