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 43613

Toledo: median income $64,384, home value $136,200, $132/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marshalltown, IA 50158 95%479$70,367$140,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Dodge, IA 50501 94%545$66,888$153,500$112 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux City, IA 51103 94%659$58,197$142,900$138 smaller
Erie, PA 16504 93%185$56,622$116,400$125 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 93%91$53,359$140,800$135 smaller
Lansing, MI 48906 93%88$64,315$139,700$132 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50316 91%516$56,090$154,300$159 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63114 91%412$55,870$116,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14616 90%321$66,499$147,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Erie, PA 16508 90%183$56,391$132,500$122 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 90%92$58,685$153,200$128 smaller
Mason City, IA 50401 90%499$66,072$146,500$123 older residents
Kansas City, KS 66104 90%608$61,338$141,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68104 90%642$60,549$168,100$158 pricier homes ($32K more)
Omaha, NE 68112 90%639$56,159$151,300$138 smaller
Tulsa, OK 74112 90%764$58,951$160,800$153 more renters
Oswego, NY 13126 89%383$65,346$145,400$147 Very close on everything we compare
Beloit, WI 53511 89%287$67,067$173,500$164 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Independence, MO 64052 89%599$59,007$150,600$139 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40213 88%268$55,897$173,600$169 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46203 88%189$57,393$168,200$137 pricier homes ($32K more)
Burlington, IA 52601 88%395$60,983$124,200$101 older residents
Muscatine, IA 52761 88%385$62,098$170,600$162 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 88%1,240$57,742$184,700$143 pricier homes ($49K more)
Cumberland, MD 21502 87%289$60,725$153,700$113 older 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.