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 45406

Dayton: median income $41,796, home value $85,000, $88/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Flint, MI 48503 95%225$44,411$83,800$65 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64130 94%552$42,221$86,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67211 94%719$44,120$109,400$95 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, IL 62703 92%286$45,009$96,500$97 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74106 92%686$40,776$109,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38114 91%452$34,206$82,000$90 older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63121 91%333$42,701$95,600$100 5 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67213 90%722$50,170$89,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13205 89%475$38,497$99,000$73 more apartments and townhomes
Terre Haute, IN 47804 89%169$40,674$94,200$88 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63136 89%331$41,154$84,400$80 larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63137 89%328$43,422$82,900$93 6 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64132 89%553$45,622$108,000$98 smaller
Highland Park, MI 48203 88%192$38,404$76,200$70 5 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67214 88%718$35,192$76,200$84 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40215 87%138$43,725$114,900$143 pricier homes ($30K more)
Peoria, IL 61603 87%289$41,618$77,500$58 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 87%1,120$41,045$88,400$93 smaller
Detroit, MI 48235 86%191$39,265$90,000$85 larger · 6 min longer commute
Flint, MI 48507 86%223$46,554$111,300$88 pricier homes ($26K more)
Kansas City, MO 64128 86%552$36,088$84,600$71 smaller
Fort Smith, AR 72901 86%635$42,851$118,100$113 pricier homes ($33K more) · less walkable
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 85%563$46,731$98,600$114 smaller · older homes
Kansas City, KS 66101 85%556$42,551$106,300$123 smaller
Wichita, KS 67218 85%717$49,059$122,300$118 pricier homes ($37K 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.