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 Mobile, AL 36605

Mobile: median income $43,538, home value $99,200, $99/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockford, IL 61101 95%808$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46404 94%758$42,256$95,200$92 smaller
Okmulgee, OK 74447 94%572$48,432$113,600$109 smaller
Akron, OH 44320 93%808$41,241$104,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlesville, OK 74003 93%620$47,168$113,500$103 smaller
Plainview, TX 79072 93%832$47,255$114,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Indianola, MS 38751 92%246$44,699$116,100$91 smaller
Youngstown, OH 44505 92%836$37,538$93,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61102 91%805$46,599$98,900$105 smaller
Fort Smith, AR 72904 91%492$41,909$111,500$108 younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 91%636$46,810$123,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, TN 38301 90%346$43,227$132,900$128 pricier homes ($34K more)
Akron, OH 44314 90%806$47,468$88,400$99 older homes
Gary, IN 46408 90%755$47,453$102,600$86 smaller
Muncie, IN 47302 90%676$47,837$76,800$93 Very close on everything we compare
Enid, OK 73701 90%689$50,843$100,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79403 90%828$47,907$84,100$124 smaller
Waycross, GA 31501 89%342$37,314$113,600$106 smaller
Greenville, MS 38701 89%257$40,854$127,300$92 pricier homes ($28K more)
Lorain, OH 44052 89%817$45,023$116,000$122 older homes
Lorain, OH 44055 89%816$40,636$101,400$123 5 min longer commute
Canton, OH 44705 89%799$43,439$81,400$131 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OH 45506 89%684$42,104$107,300$102 smaller · older homes
Portsmouth, OH 45662 89%635$36,504$102,200$89 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45801 89%735$51,731$123,900$132 Very close on everything we compare

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.