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 45414

Dayton: median income $54,485, home value $182,300, $145/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14606 94%408$55,807$158,400$160 Very close on everything we compare
Hazleton, PA 18202 94%436$55,153$212,000$161 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Lexington, KY 40505 94%123$58,206$179,200$170 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, MO 64055 94%547$62,439$176,700$142 larger
Kansas City, MO 64138 94%551$58,638$188,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Knoxville, TN 37914 93%266$59,856$218,300$186 pricier homes ($36K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63125 93%339$61,624$178,600$155 larger · younger residents
Michigan City, IN 46360 92%190$59,266$167,300$157 larger
Muscatine, IA 52761 92%376$62,098$170,600$162 Very close on everything we compare
Berwick, PA 18603 91%427$60,352$170,500$124 less walkable
Niagara Falls, NY 14304 90%353$66,660$164,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, MD 21502 90%285$60,725$153,700$113 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40216 90%143$56,441$167,100$150 larger
Beech Grove, IN 46107 90%101$56,799$181,100$126 smaller · younger residents
Southgate, MI 48195 90%172$66,118$173,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Newton, IA 50208 90%480$62,306$168,900$169 less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64133 90%550$67,750$178,500$140 larger
Topeka, KS 66605 90%613$59,106$170,500$126 younger residents
Little Rock, AR 72206 90%568$52,132$142,000$120 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Uniontown, PA 15401 89%237$53,925$155,600$123 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pittston, PA 18643 89%451$63,125$174,500$128 smaller
Bristol, VA 24201 89%247$48,764$176,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Parkersburg, WV 26104 89%149$54,331$170,800$138 less walkable
Rocky Mount, NC 27803 89%440$60,124$174,500$129 newer homes
Louisville, KY 40213 89%140$55,897$173,600$169 Very close on everything we compare

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.