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 Lynchburg, VA 24504

Lynchburg: median income $52,571, home value $179,700, $124/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45217 91%320$62,200$171,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14218 89%377$54,748$150,200$167 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Scranton, PA 18505 89%332$52,398$156,700$121 larger · less walkable
Dayton, KY 41074 89%318$66,087$164,300$157 smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15223 88%223$61,083$166,300$160 smaller
Scranton, PA 18508 87%335$49,895$145,400$115 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 87%1,038$51,227$172,100$125 younger residents · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78202 87%1,243$47,478$234,700$173 pricier homes ($55K more)
Amarillo, TX 79102 87%1,275$51,125$153,100$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14206 86%382$50,450$125,100$122 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Euclid, OH 44132 86%321$47,969$125,300$128 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45216 86%321$44,099$155,300$120 younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45237 86%319$44,913$170,600$150 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 86%415$52,154$154,200$147 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13206 85%424$63,136$148,700$163 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Utica, NY 13502 85%445$57,835$158,000$154 larger
Homestead, PA 15120 85%214$55,714$132,400$153 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 85%222$61,645$185,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44144 85%316$60,223$149,900$161 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Independence, MO 64050 85%841$48,834$145,300$156 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Wichita, KS 67218 85%998$49,059$122,300$118 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Oneida, NY 13421 84%434$65,752$162,000$136 older residents · more homeowners
Scranton, PA 18509 84%335$51,062$183,700$129 more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40213 84%368$55,897$173,600$169 larger
Covington, KY 41014 84%319$61,382$164,700$147 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.