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 44305

Akron: median income $52,768, home value $99,700, $127/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bartlesville, OK 74003 92%835$47,168$113,500$103 smaller
Rockford, IL 61102 91%404$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Alton, IL 62002 91%484$61,414$118,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46408 90%308$47,453$102,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Mattoon, IL 61938 90%381$57,503$111,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16101 89%59$51,128$110,600$110 older residents · more homeowners
Clarksburg, WV 26301 89%137$49,816$133,300$107 pricier homes ($34K more)
Ashland, KY 41101 89%191$53,889$121,600$101 newer homes
Richmond, IN 47374 89%200$50,766$130,700$124 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Evansville, IN 47714 89%388$55,910$133,400$109 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Bay City, MI 48708 89%213$50,518$107,700$104 more homeowners
Waterloo, IA 50703 89%568$50,060$95,900$84 5 min shorter commute
Ottumwa, IA 52501 89%570$63,426$122,700$121 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, IA 52544 89%596$50,572$116,900$119 smaller
Rockford, IL 61101 89%404$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Arkansas City, KS 67005 89%879$54,516$95,400$87 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 89%948$46,810$123,000$136 newer homes
Abilene, TX 79603 89%1,171$53,513$120,900$134 7 min shorter commute
Parkersburg, WV 26101 88%125$48,710$117,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46404 88%309$42,256$95,200$92 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46619 88%255$48,081$105,400$123 more homeowners
Logansport, IN 46947 88%256$54,791$126,800$113 pricier homes ($27K more) · more homeowners
Warren, MI 48089 88%124$52,366$122,100$123 larger · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61103 88%402$51,161$115,500$98 more apartments and townhomes
Streator, IL 61364 88%383$59,060$103,700$128 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.