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 Westerville, OH 43081

Westerville: median income $92,422, home value $329,800, $209/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, MN 55901 95%561$94,607$317,000$177 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19711 93%381$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($69K more)
Greensboro, NC 27410 93%322$85,291$338,600$187 older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55122 92%616$96,823$356,600$200 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Bedford, TX 76021 92%934$87,097$374,400$206 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Greenville, SC 29615 91%364$76,117$377,500$212 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 91%208$80,930$346,600$181 Very close on everything we compare
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 91%389$97,051$379,500$224 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78232 91%1,141$85,273$362,000$188 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37923 90%296$73,699$333,000$213 smaller
Rochester, MI 48307 90%176$106,576$355,700$211 pricier homes ($26K more)
Lawrence, KS 66049 90%663$90,147$393,400$190 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 90%813$79,967$324,000$182 smaller
Tyler, TX 75703 90%876$79,194$336,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 89%151$73,737$294,500$186 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Newark, DE 19702 88%384$92,446$346,100$209 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32224 88%683$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40509 88%167$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
West Des Moines, IA 50265 88%575$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Oak Creek, WI 53154 88%322$96,555$331,700$230 smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55112 88%624$93,838$358,500$200 pricier homes ($29K more)
Lenexa, KS 66215 88%635$88,232$338,800$189 smaller · more walkable
Omaha, NE 68154 88%696$81,385$326,100$158 smaller
Lafayette, LA 70508 88%858$86,005$305,300$163 smaller · newer homes
Norman, OK 73072 88%865$78,546$306,500$171 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.