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 44306

Akron: median income $41,688, home value $81,400, $88/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Inkster, MI 48141 94%128$39,252$80,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61101 92%403$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38108 91%613$36,257$71,200$72 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46406 89%309$35,839$91,700$97 smaller
Gary, IN 46404 88%307$42,256$95,200$92 more homeowners
Pontiac, MI 48342 88%144$35,253$101,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63137 88%489$43,422$82,900$93 more walkable
Memphis, TN 38127 85%612$36,901$90,300$75 larger · newer homes
Gary, IN 46408 85%306$47,453$102,600$86 more homeowners
Ecorse, MI 48229 85%119$40,264$65,400$90 smaller · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64130 85%704$42,221$86,300$93 more walkable
Beaumont, TX 77701 85%1,036$49,181$84,000$91 smaller · newer homes
Mobile, AL 36605 84%808$43,538$99,200$99 newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63136 84%492$41,154$84,400$80 larger · more walkable
Kansas City, MO 64132 83%705$45,622$108,000$98 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · more walkable
Tyler, TX 75702 83%971$51,564$115,200$113 pricier homes ($34K more)
Amarillo, TX 79107 83%1,171$40,671$92,600$103 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Macon, GA 31204 82%580$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Macon, GA 31206 82%583$30,042$90,200$71 newer homes
Clarksdale, MS 38614 82%685$37,383$92,300$64 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Anderson, IN 46016 82%230$36,029$78,500$46 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47713 82%387$40,873$95,900$80 smaller
Flint, MI 48507 82%176$46,554$111,300$88 pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners
Fort Smith, AR 72901 82%803$42,851$118,100$113 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 82%949$46,670$84,700$120 more walkable · newer homes

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.