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 Dayton, OH 45403

Dayton: median income $38,323, home value $87,500, $109/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64127 93%556$33,111$91,200$94 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40210 92%138$35,347$98,700$99 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66101 92%561$42,551$106,300$123 6 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48215 90%191$33,812$111,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14621 89%413$35,383$90,700$100 larger
Wichita, KS 67214 89%723$35,192$76,200$84 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 87%790$43,133$99,200$109 larger
Louisville, KY 40211 86%138$31,749$100,400$83 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 86%103$34,381$85,200$96 younger residents · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14611 85%410$31,376$82,400$88 6 min shorter commute
Highland Park, MI 48203 85%192$38,404$76,200$70 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79930 85%1,361$42,099$135,000$134 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Mckeesport, PA 15132 84%230$35,397$73,900$78 older residents
Memphis, TN 38114 84%454$34,206$82,000$90 older residents
Louisville, KY 40215 84%140$43,725$114,900$143 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73108 84%791$37,168$80,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 84%1,123$41,045$88,400$93 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14211 83%352$36,300$106,400$99 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40212 83%136$35,753$87,600$80 older residents · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64124 83%556$46,241$112,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67211 83%724$44,120$109,400$95 8 min shorter commute
Erie, PA 16502 82%267$38,566$93,000$84 7 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35211 82%459$34,884$96,200$75 larger · newer homes
Hammond, IN 46320 82%217$37,158$135,000$133 pricier homes ($48K more) · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63111 82%337$47,039$128,400$101 pricier homes ($41K more)

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.