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 Memphis, TN 38117

Memphis: median income $85,633, home value $311,800, $172/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14226 92%805$84,325$263,800$218 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Tulsa, OK 74114 92%346$98,222$308,700$194 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64114 91%371$81,275$280,900$218 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Dayton, OH 45419 90%447$92,264$248,400$189 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63119 88%241$106,183$351,100$241 pricier homes ($39K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 88%433$81,226$321,600$199 smaller
Lynchburg, VA 24503 87%617$89,137$347,500$168 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Gainesville, FL 32605 87%578$86,714$284,900$205 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63126 87%239$98,852$306,300$207 smaller
Louisville, KY 40205 86%317$99,966$375,300$208 pricier homes ($64K more) · older homes
Louisville, KY 40207 86%320$101,898$421,200$202 pricier homes ($109K more)
Dayton, OH 45429 86%446$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Madison, WI 53716 85%550$91,716$356,800$254 pricier homes ($45K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55422 85%707$93,914$325,900$199 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44126 84%618$79,269$239,000$200 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45230 84%409$89,516$262,100$184 cheaper homes ($50K less) · less walkable
Omaha, NE 68124 84%539$98,750$301,400$185 smaller · more renters
Spokane, WA 99203 84%1,654$104,372$483,300$225 pricier homes ($172K more)
Buffalo, NY 14223 83%803$84,161$216,500$213 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 83%655$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Mission, KS 66205 83%376$102,449$360,800$273 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Greensboro, NC 27408 82%571$83,862$374,700$206 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35801 82%191$105,585$422,300$205 pricier homes ($111K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63130 82%247$85,823$316,100$202 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Little Rock, AR 72207 82%141$96,343$406,600$222 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller

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.