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 44311

Akron: median income $24,369, home value $68,800, $61/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Huntington, WV 25703 72%189$24,139$71,200$37 smaller
Columbus, GA 31903 71%626$32,401$81,000$46 larger · older residents
Terre Haute, IN 47807 71%329$24,706$71,200$46 larger · more walkable
Rochester, NY 14605 67%248$21,201$82,700$76 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Augusta, GA 30901 67%526$25,163$104,000$109 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Gary, IN 46407 62%304$28,526$60,200$48 older residents · more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36603 61%804$26,879$109,100$68 pricier homes ($40K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Jackson, MS 39204 61%774$30,237$69,500$30 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Gary, IN 46402 60%304$33,529$85,400$60 older residents · more homeowners · older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53206 59%357$29,336$83,400$59 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 58%911$34,458$99,800$102 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more homeowners
Killeen, TX 76541 58%1,133$37,349$116,300$94 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · older residents
Springfield, MO 65806 56%685$28,165$88,600$138 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Baton Rouge, LA 70805 55%907$25,397$108,500$47 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Erie, PA 16503 54%105$32,340$64,600$58 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Erie, PA 16507 54%105$33,361$66,400$85 more homeowners · more walkable · older homes
Albany, GA 31701 54%672$35,025$94,800$76 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Rochester, NY 14611 53%246$31,376$82,400$88 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 53%187$34,381$85,200$96 more homeowners · more walkable
Waco, TX 76704 53%1,085$30,349$134,900$138 pricier homes ($66K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12307 52%408$24,758$104,600$122 pricier homes ($36K more) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Rockford, IL 61104 52%399$33,772$90,100$100 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Hayti, MO 63851 52%555$28,705$77,600$45 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Beaumont, TX 77703 52%1,034$31,803$87,600$77 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Macon, GA 31206 51%584$30,042$90,200$71 larger · older residents · 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.