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 Montgomery, AL 36106

Montgomery: median income $69,087, home value $220,600, $102/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, NE 68510 85%819$65,951$239,700$156 older homes
Champaign, IL 61821 84%547$70,715$181,800$162 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Springfield, IL 62704 84%547$69,976$172,600$112 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Lincoln, NE 68506 84%818$72,637$258,600$157 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Jackson, MS 39211 83%225$69,426$221,600$110 larger · less walkable
Peoria, IL 61614 83%610$66,924$172,100$118 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · less walkable
Little Rock, AR 72205 83%387$68,415$229,600$167 larger · older homes
North Little Rock, AR 72116 82%383$79,010$232,600$132 larger · less walkable
Tulsa, OK 74135 80%609$62,694$248,600$166 pricier homes ($28K more) · older homes
West Columbia, SC 29169 79%320$57,122$209,200$160 larger · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40220 78%407$78,434$264,200$160 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · less walkable
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 78%730$73,439$194,000$133 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · less walkable
Lincoln, NE 68507 78%820$69,488$230,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72227 78%389$73,879$270,400$134 pricier homes ($50K more) · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40242 77%411$75,417$299,600$174 pricier homes ($79K more) · less walkable
Topeka, KS 66614 77%703$71,377$194,100$130 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · less walkable
Omaha, NE 68114 77%819$69,469$294,200$177 pricier homes ($74K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Oklahoma City, OK 73112 77%684$58,419$196,400$156 larger · older homes
Amarillo, TX 79109 77%917$70,435$222,900$142 larger · less walkable
New Orleans, LA 70131 76%277$62,389$237,700$124 larger · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 75%655$75,611$228,700$190 less walkable · older homes
Toledo, OH 43606 75%660$66,917$169,000$130 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Toledo, OH 43623 75%662$71,171$169,300$146 cheaper homes ($51K less) · less walkable
Lansing, MI 48917 75%723$70,990$222,900$149 larger · less walkable
Wichita, KS 67206 75%721$82,252$346,400$143 pricier homes ($126K more)

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.