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 Louisville, KY 40220

Louisville: median income $78,434, home value $264,200, $160/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68144 97%595$83,576$269,600$171 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68506 96%613$72,637$258,600$157 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32504 95%541$72,672$275,800$179 smaller
Omaha, NE 68137 95%594$80,739$252,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45440 94%129$82,383$267,900$158 smaller
North Little Rock, AR 72116 94%436$79,010$232,600$132 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Liverpool, NY 13090 93%599$88,492$213,100$195 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Urbandale, IA 50322 93%489$92,085$276,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 93%684$72,831$269,500$173 Very close on everything we compare
Albuquerque, NM 87112 93%1,175$73,937$281,400$209 Very close on everything we compare
Maumee, OH 43537 92%255$82,752$253,300$172 less walkable
Dayton, OH 45429 92%128$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 92%413$73,439$194,000$133 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Erie, PA 16509 91%397$68,846$220,500$169 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Camp Hill, PA 17011 91%486$92,556$277,800$178 older homes
York, PA 17402 91%495$81,166$250,400$166 Very close on everything we compare
Lansing, MI 48917 91%317$70,990$222,900$149 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Maryland Heights, MO 63043 91%263$91,509$227,600$177 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Shawnee, KS 66203 91%494$75,869$254,900$222 smaller
Erie, PA 16506 90%393$81,060$237,300$201 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 90%197$85,833$258,700$150 less walkable
West Des Moines, IA 50265 90%489$85,915$281,800$213 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66614 90%549$71,377$194,100$130 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Monroeville, PA 15146 89%349$79,300$210,000$169 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Christiansburg, VA 24073 89%294$76,800$253,200$190 less walkable

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.