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.

Reset

Towns most like Akron, OH 44321

Akron: median income $119,178, home value $363,700, $185/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hummelstown, PA 17036 96%265$115,533$349,700$176 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, MN 55902 94%586$120,611$454,800$213 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger
Victor, NY 14564 93%253$115,625$353,900$218 older residents
Charlottesville, VA 22911 93%270$128,235$454,100$230 pricier homes ($90K more)
Midlothian, VA 23114 93%329$112,738$409,100$220 pricier homes ($45K more)
Waunakee, WI 53597 93%425$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($130K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55127 93%639$117,917$433,200$223 pricier homes ($70K more)
Yorktown, VA 23693 92%391$124,433$488,400$225 pricier homes ($125K more)
Birmingham, AL 35244 92%606$113,450$412,000$176 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 91%250$113,720$372,900$192 larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 91%630$119,250$481,600$204 pricier homes ($118K more)
Novi, MI 48375 91%133$112,545$376,900$204 larger · older homes
Springfield, IL 62711 91%435$124,816$316,800$154 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 90%85$124,189$420,000$231 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Rochester, MI 48309 90%134$121,007$424,600$196 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older homes
Bloomington, IL 61705 90%391$120,547$328,200$140 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64064 90%688$117,674$389,000$184 pricier homes ($25K more)
Glenmont, NY 12077 89%417$118,257$401,700$243 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Glen Allen, VA 23060 89%323$104,468$409,900$224 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Madison, AL 35758 89%521$117,380$370,300$180 larger
Farmington, MI 48331 89%133$127,633$410,000$182 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Greensboro, NC 27455 88%354$94,349$341,500$191 larger
Tallahassee, FL 32309 88%743$113,412$376,000$206 larger · more single-family homes
Louisville, KY 40245 88%283$122,948$445,300$182 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Eldridge, IA 52748 88%464$107,869$326,600$185 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 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.