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 Canton, OH 44707

Canton: median income $44,943, home value $109,100, $114/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mobile, AL 36611 92%786$46,559$117,500$88 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46404 91%318$42,256$95,200$92 larger
Melvindale, MI 48122 91%142$42,185$125,800$118 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49202 91%189$42,632$116,100$122 larger
Rockford, IL 61101 91%415$46,163$90,600$92 larger
Battle Creek, MI 49037 90%228$42,690$99,600$137 larger
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 90%503$49,798$139,100$132 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61102 89%415$46,599$98,900$105 larger
Tyler, TX 75702 89%966$51,564$115,200$113 larger
Waco, TX 76711 89%1,086$53,185$153,000$125 pricier homes ($44K more)
Gary, IN 46408 88%317$47,453$102,600$86 larger
Rantoul, IL 61866 88%358$50,686$121,300$112 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 88%947$46,810$123,000$136 larger
Bartlesville, OK 74003 88%835$47,168$113,500$103 larger
Beaumont, TX 77701 88%1,028$49,181$84,000$91 cheaper homes ($25K less) · newer homes
Lubbock, TX 79412 88%1,231$48,878$130,700$90 larger
Hamlet, NC 28345 87%415$40,957$97,600$114 newer homes
Gary, IN 46406 87%320$35,839$91,700$97 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64132 87%710$45,622$108,000$98 more walkable
Fort Smith, AR 72904 87%799$41,909$111,500$108 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Okmulgee, OK 74447 87%868$48,432$113,600$109 larger · newer homes
Las Animas, CO 81054 87%1,175$48,398$134,100$109 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Roswell, NM 88203 87%1,371$42,207$126,600$117 larger
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 86%385$44,884$115,400$109 larger · newer homes
Ecorse, MI 48229 86%139$40,264$65,400$90 cheaper homes ($44K less)

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.