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 44307

Akron: median income $27,697, home value $85,500, $95/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Augusta, GA 30901 86%526$25,163$104,000$109 larger · 5 min longer commute
Mobile, AL 36603 83%804$26,879$109,100$68 more single-family homes
Albany, GA 31701 81%672$35,025$94,800$76 larger · more single-family homes
Killeen, TX 76541 79%1,132$37,349$116,300$94 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Kensett, AR 72082 76%681$31,638$91,000$84 smaller · more homeowners
Waco, TX 76704 76%1,084$30,349$134,900$138 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents
North Little Rock, AR 72114 75%728$30,175$130,000$85 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more walkable
Pontiac, MI 48342 74%141$35,253$101,300$99 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Gulfport, MS 39501 73%850$34,758$121,800$92 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbus, GA 31903 71%626$32,401$81,000$46 larger
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 71%910$34,458$99,800$102 larger · younger residents
Beaumont, TX 77703 71%1,033$31,803$87,600$77 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Ridgely, TN 38080 70%541$30,313$82,900$77 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Fayetteville, NC 28301 69%439$39,198$122,400$146 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Pascagoula, MS 39581 69%836$37,927$153,100$91 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · more homeowners
San Antonio, TX 78226 69%1,250$33,398$107,100$138 10 min longer commute · more walkable
Carbon Cliff, IL 61239 68%460$32,177$99,400$143 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Kinston, NC 28501 67%454$35,118$79,000$82 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Pahokee, FL 33476 67%986$36,652$154,900$155 pricier homes ($69K more) · more homeowners
Yazoo City, MS 39194 67%748$32,260$130,200$93 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more homeowners
Middlesboro, KY 40965 67%329$28,685$95,200$128 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Lubbock, TX 79415 67%1,226$36,468$96,400$139 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Anderson, SC 29624 66%462$30,549$76,900$150 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 66%499$38,695$122,200$99 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Tennille, GA 31089 65%568$36,094$99,300$87 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family 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.