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 Cincinnati, OH 45207

Cincinnati: median income $49,801, home value $229,200, $179/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68108 83%622$53,609$159,700$168 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46225 80%99$55,190$162,400$132 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50311 78%513$61,957$226,500$202 larger · older residents
Memphis, TN 38112 76%410$55,207$252,100$130 larger · older residents · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37404 75%287$56,637$255,400$195 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68105 75%623$57,533$208,800$162 larger · older residents · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01109 74%657$48,415$219,900$208 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Covington, KY 41014 74%6$61,382$164,700$147 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Des Moines, IA 50314 74%511$39,950$147,900$140 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55411 74%607$60,225$245,400$145 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74104 74%661$54,691$246,000$189 larger · older residents
Duluth, MN 55806 73%654$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents · more renters
Saint Paul, MN 55130 72%597$54,130$236,000$170 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Dearborn, MI 48126 71%231$42,140$213,900$155 larger · older residents · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64110 71%542$63,044$256,700$194 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Portsmouth, VA 23702 70%472$48,835$208,000$184 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46208 70%103$60,062$220,500$114 larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 70%140$52,154$154,200$147 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 70%269$61,461$199,300$188 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Racine, WI 53404 69%304$50,428$129,800$172 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64124 69%539$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73106 69%760$60,205$301,900$199 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · older residents
Amarillo, TX 79102 69%993$51,125$153,100$123 cheaper homes ($76K less) · older residents · newer homes
Great Falls, MT 59401 68%1,457$55,299$223,200$159 larger · older residents · less walkable
Wichita, KS 67208 68%700$60,914$183,300$126 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents

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.