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 Toledo, OH 43611

Toledo: median income $62,042, home value $132,000, $145/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, KS 66104 95%614$61,338$141,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Marshalltown, IA 50158 93%485$70,367$140,700$124 larger
Sioux City, IA 51103 93%665$58,197$142,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66605 93%666$59,106$170,500$126 pricier homes ($39K more)
Erie, PA 16504 92%179$56,622$116,400$125 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Dodge, IA 50501 92%550$66,888$153,500$112 larger
Omaha, NE 68112 92%645$56,159$151,300$138 smaller
Amarillo, TX 79103 92%1,086$57,981$132,300$132 smaller · younger residents
Rochester, NY 14616 91%315$66,499$147,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 91%96$53,359$140,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50313 91%523$68,361$175,100$187 pricier homes ($43K more)
Lansing, MI 48906 90%91$64,315$139,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Muscatine, IA 52761 90%391$62,098$170,600$162 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63125 90%422$61,624$178,600$155 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Independence, MO 64052 90%604$59,007$150,600$139 more renters
Amarillo, TX 79110 90%1,090$66,683$160,100$143 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Cumberland, MD 21502 89%284$60,725$153,700$113 larger · older residents
Louisville, KY 40213 89%270$55,897$173,600$169 pricier homes ($42K more)
Hammond, IN 46324 89%207$63,052$158,800$147 pricier homes ($27K more) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Des Moines, IA 50316 89%522$56,090$154,300$159 younger residents
Des Moines, IA 50317 89%518$65,617$177,600$203 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Beloit, WI 53511 89%293$67,067$173,500$164 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Joliet, IL 60433 89%236$66,515$172,300$173 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min longer commute
Pekin, IL 61554 89%329$65,194$127,600$107 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63114 89%418$55,870$116,800$148 larger · more renters

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.