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 Mansfield, OH 44902

Mansfield: median income $31,343, home value $62,300, $56/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46402 86%258$33,529$85,400$60 more homeowners
Gary, IN 46407 79%257$28,526$60,200$48 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Anderson, IN 46016 78%173$36,029$78,500$46 larger · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63120 78%436$35,176$53,500$44 more homeowners · more walkable
Erie, PA 16503 76%158$32,340$64,600$58 larger · more walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53206 73%321$29,336$83,400$59 larger · more walkable
Birmingham, AL 35218 72%556$30,739$92,600$58 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Muncie, IN 47305 72%156$36,389$77,800$71 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, NY 14611 71%300$31,376$82,400$88 larger · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48211 70%116$35,725$78,900$45 more homeowners · more walkable
Birmingham, AL 35207 68%551$31,486$80,300$69 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48238 67%118$33,315$64,800$46 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Rockford, IL 61104 67%355$33,772$90,100$100 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, GA 31903 66%591$32,401$81,000$46 larger · newer homes
Evansville, IN 47713 66%331$40,873$95,900$80 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 66%431$27,437$60,000$49 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38108 65%559$36,257$71,200$72 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Wichita, KS 67214 65%819$35,192$76,200$84 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Erie, PA 16507 64%158$33,361$66,400$85 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Mobile, AL 36603 64%761$26,879$109,100$68 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
River Rouge, MI 48218 64%109$41,033$65,200$72 larger · more homeowners
Topeka, KS 66607 64%705$29,797$46,400$61 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Elmira, NY 14901 61%310$40,989$93,800$65 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Memphis, TN 38106 61%566$30,232$71,800$47 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Jackson, MS 39204 61%725$30,237$69,500$30 larger · 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.