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.

Reset

Towns most like Lorain, OH 44052

Lorain: median income $45,023, home value $116,000, $122/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46404 92%269$42,256$95,200$92 smaller
Rockford, IL 61103 92%360$51,161$115,500$98 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49202 91%128$42,632$116,100$122 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Rockford, IL 61101 91%362$46,163$90,600$92 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Baytown, TX 77520 90%1,080$54,278$150,700$125 pricier homes ($35K more)
Mobile, AL 36605 89%817$43,538$99,200$99 newer homes
Gary, IN 46408 89%268$47,453$102,600$86 smaller
Pontiac, MI 48341 89%100$51,390$150,500$119 pricier homes ($35K more)
Battle Creek, MI 49037 89%168$42,690$99,600$137 6 min shorter commute
Rockford, IL 61102 89%362$46,599$98,900$105 smaller
San Angelo, TX 76903 89%1,223$49,498$125,700$149 newer homes
Roswell, NM 88203 89%1,343$42,207$126,600$117 5 min shorter commute
Port Huron, MI 48060 88%107$53,018$160,900$136 pricier homes ($45K more)
Melvindale, MI 48122 88%77$42,185$125,800$118 smaller · younger residents
Inkster, MI 48141 88%82$39,252$80,400$105 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 88%923$46,810$123,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75702 88%958$51,564$115,200$113 younger residents
Danville, VA 24541 87%368$51,427$145,100$115 pricier homes ($29K more)
Clarksburg, WV 26301 87%178$49,816$133,300$107 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, TN 38301 87%540$43,227$132,900$128 newer homes
Richmond, IN 47374 87%182$50,766$130,700$124 larger
Warren, MI 48089 87%82$52,366$122,100$123 more single-family homes
Pontiac, MI 48340 87%101$47,891$119,900$116 newer homes
Flint, MI 48507 87%132$46,554$111,300$88 more walkable
Parkersburg, WV 26101 86%155$48,710$117,500$105 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners

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.