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 Lorain, OH 44055

Lorain: median income $40,636, home value $101,400, $123/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46404 94%271$42,256$95,200$92 Very close on everything we compare
Inkster, MI 48141 93%85$39,252$80,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61101 90%364$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61102 90%364$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 89%816$43,538$99,200$99 5 min shorter commute
Gary, IN 46408 89%270$47,453$102,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Hamlet, NC 28345 88%471$40,957$97,600$114 smaller · newer homes
Gary, IN 46406 88%273$35,839$91,700$97 smaller · younger residents
Mount Morris, MI 48458 87%141$46,797$95,600$113 more homeowners
Minden, LA 71055 87%864$36,953$127,000$101 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Battle Creek, MI 49037 86%171$42,690$99,600$137 7 min shorter commute
Melvindale, MI 48122 85%79$42,185$125,800$118 smaller · younger residents
Jackson, MI 49202 85%130$42,632$116,100$122 9 min shorter commute
Roswell, NM 88203 85%1,344$42,207$126,600$117 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Muncie, IN 47302 84%191$47,837$76,800$93 more homeowners
Pontiac, MI 48342 84%102$35,253$101,300$99 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Rockford, IL 61103 84%362$51,161$115,500$98 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 84%924$46,810$123,000$136 6 min shorter commute
Union, SC 29379 83%464$40,879$109,900$113 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Jackson, TN 38301 83%540$43,227$132,900$128 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Okmulgee, OK 74447 83%847$48,432$113,600$109 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Henderson, NC 27536 82%406$39,985$131,000$112 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Warren, MI 48089 82%84$52,366$122,100$123 larger
Ecorse, MI 48229 82%77$40,264$65,400$90 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Pontiac, MI 48340 82%104$47,891$119,900$116 Very close on everything we compare

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.