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 45211

Cincinnati: median income $53,868, home value $169,500, $142/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40214 96%94$54,931$184,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53209 94%325$48,486$166,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, NY 13502 93%558$57,835$158,000$154 5 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46219 93%89$60,803$184,900$118 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46226 93%92$50,325$158,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79925 93%1,322$57,623$192,900$140 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40218 92%88$58,811$205,300$147 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53223 91%328$60,839$203,100$156 pricier homes ($34K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46203 90%91$57,393$168,200$137 more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78213 90%1,034$55,884$216,400$164 pricier homes ($47K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 89%632$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($60K more)
Louisville, KY 40219 89%92$55,720$204,200$167 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Racine, WI 53403 89%297$59,820$176,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Oshkosh, WI 54901 89%393$61,794$177,700$163 6 min shorter commute
Hazelwood, MO 63042 89%311$49,453$149,400$128 smaller
Saint Ann, MO 63074 89%312$51,610$132,700$153 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 89%757$51,227$172,100$125 smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76115 89%840$52,411$150,600$144 smaller
Buffalo, NY 14218 88%394$54,748$150,200$167 smaller
Roanoke, VA 24012 88%284$52,973$184,400$143 older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46227 88%90$53,629$210,000$127 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Lansing, MI 48911 88%244$56,631$146,600$133 newer homes
Kenosha, WI 53140 88%292$58,006$206,700$190 pricier homes ($37K more)
Rochester, NY 14615 87%457$51,262$137,500$148 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 87%137$52,154$154,200$147 smaller · 5 min shorter commute

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.