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 43617

Toledo: median income $127,019, home value $286,000, $145/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sherman, IL 62684 88%330$139,196$305,300$158 newer homes
Byron, MN 55920 87%480$131,336$372,600$193 pricier homes ($87K more)
Omaha, NE 68118 87%645$133,281$390,700$158 pricier homes ($105K more)
West Salem, WI 54669 86%404$103,194$312,300$168 pricier homes ($26K more)
Bloomington, IL 61705 86%291$120,547$328,200$140 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · newer homes
Mahomet, IL 61853 86%264$115,512$282,200$191 larger
Springfield, IL 62712 86%334$110,179$256,000$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents · less walkable
Shawnee, KS 66216 86%607$111,744$353,300$182 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 85%360$117,130$385,600$185 pricier homes ($100K more)
Eldridge, IA 52748 85%353$107,869$326,600$185 pricier homes ($41K more) · 7 min longer commute
Little Rock, AR 72212 85%670$114,140$338,300$151 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Jamesville, NY 13078 84%401$119,191$313,000$221 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Syracuse, NY 13215 84%393$113,864$304,900$201 larger
Penfield, NY 14526 84%335$118,777$282,800$223 larger
Manlius, NY 13104 83%406$127,933$337,100$212 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Dubuque, IA 52003 83%361$98,908$286,100$160 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Metamora, IL 61548 83%303$128,559$238,800$130 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Forsyth, IL 62535 83%300$112,000$281,000$133 smaller · more single-family homes
Chatham, IL 62629 83%343$107,250$243,800$149 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Solon, IA 52333 82%402$118,721$366,900$177 pricier homes ($81K more) · less walkable
Monticello, IL 61856 82%278$103,559$230,900$155 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min longer commute
Fairview, PA 16415 81%181$108,214$310,600$200 more single-family homes
Hummelstown, PA 17036 81%378$115,533$349,700$176 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · more renters
Granger, IN 46530 80%125$122,129$345,400$153 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Lees Summit, MO 64064 80%590$117,674$389,000$184 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.