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 Akron, OH 44303

Akron: median income $69,743, home value $236,200, $136/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayetteville, NC 28305 84%442$78,148$260,900$175 more single-family homes · newer homes
Mobile, AL 36604 80%807$66,357$249,300$170 more single-family homes
Glens Falls, NY 12801 73%432$67,577$212,500$181 larger
Saranac Lake, NY 12983 73%437$65,985$225,200$260 7 min shorter commute
Fredonia, NY 14063 73%146$57,937$183,500$146 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · newer homes
Kalamazoo, MI 49008 73%225$74,943$218,200$163 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70121 73%909$59,562$247,900$175 newer homes
Brewer, ME 04412 71%694$66,613$245,300$194 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Oneonta, NY 13820 71%347$65,953$182,000$139 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Corning, NY 14830 71%243$73,263$169,800$117 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 71%91$75,611$228,700$190 larger · more walkable · newer homes
Morgantown, WV 26501 71%132$63,529$219,800$157 larger · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64137 71%703$66,036$181,700$147 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Hallowell, ME 04347 70%634$68,398$295,300$191 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · older residents
Clinton, NY 13323 70%343$78,224$244,600$193 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 70%98$67,960$217,500$190 larger · more walkable
Huntington, WV 25701 70%192$56,292$164,300$115 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · newer homes
South Bend, IN 46617 70%247$74,186$243,400$253 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Southfield, MI 48075 70%128$65,384$227,000$135 larger · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46205 69%257$72,417$304,500$135 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63109 69%496$69,938$264,700$201 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more walkable
Greenfield, MA 01301 68%470$56,176$265,300$222 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Keene, NH 03431 68%491$79,541$255,500$228 larger · newer homes
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 68%486$70,299$209,100$139 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 68%535$62,411$197,500$171 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 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.