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 44310

Akron: median income $41,066, home value $99,400, $105/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Inkster, MI 48141 93%124$39,252$80,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31204 90%584$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($36K more)
Pontiac, MI 48342 89%140$35,253$101,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61101 89%401$46,163$90,600$92 more homeowners
Henderson, NC 27536 88%370$39,985$131,000$112 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · newer homes
Fort Smith, AR 72901 88%804$42,851$118,100$113 6 min shorter commute
Gary, IN 46406 87%308$35,839$91,700$97 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63137 86%489$43,422$82,900$93 more walkable
Pontiac, MI 48340 85%142$47,891$119,900$116 newer homes
Memphis, TN 38127 84%615$36,901$90,300$75 larger · newer homes
Gary, IN 46404 84%306$42,256$95,200$92 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Evansville, IN 47713 84%389$40,873$95,900$80 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63121 84%495$42,701$95,600$100 more homeowners · more walkable
Tyler, TX 75702 84%973$51,564$115,200$113 more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36605 83%812$43,538$99,200$99 more homeowners · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38108 83%616$36,257$71,200$72 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Kansas City, MO 64132 83%705$45,622$108,000$98 smaller · more walkable
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 82%410$44,884$115,400$109 newer homes
Jackson, MI 49202 82%170$42,632$116,100$122 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Rockford, IL 61103 82%400$51,161$115,500$98 older residents · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64130 82%704$42,221$86,300$93 more homeowners · more walkable
Lubbock, TX 79412 82%1,230$48,878$130,700$90 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Melvindale, MI 48122 81%119$42,185$125,800$118 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63136 81%493$41,154$84,400$80 larger · more walkable
Lafayette, LA 70501 81%953$33,365$116,900$79 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.