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 45439

Dayton: median income $52,035, home value $143,300, $150/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Ann, MO 63074 95%337$51,610$132,700$153 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 95%787$51,227$172,100$125 pricier homes ($29K more)
Tulsa, OK 74107 95%689$53,505$135,600$145 larger
Tulsa, OK 74129 95%681$49,677$153,700$143 larger
Rochester, NY 14615 94%417$51,262$137,500$148 larger
Fort Worth, TX 76115 94%876$52,411$150,600$144 larger
Kenner, LA 70062 93%752$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($57K more)
Tulsa, OK 74128 93%679$52,195$120,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32505 92%662$44,783$136,500$135 larger
Kansas City, MO 64117 92%551$59,601$186,900$164 pricier homes ($44K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 92%788$54,642$159,200$142 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37406 91%326$44,850$168,000$176 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46241 91%109$53,653$130,200$129 larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 90%108$53,359$140,800$135 larger · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63138 90%326$56,096$139,100$103 larger
North Little Rock, AR 72118 90%558$49,559$123,100$108 larger
Tulsa, OK 74145 90%683$58,706$171,800$137 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Hampton, VA 23663 89%466$54,336$202,300$191 pricier homes ($59K more)
Roanoke, VA 24017 89%283$47,360$150,600$114 larger
Buena Vista, VA 24416 89%295$54,882$158,600$150 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksville, IN 47129 89%127$56,185$170,600$139 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Bethany, OK 73008 89%789$57,459$173,200$139 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 89%778$51,228$126,100$130 larger
Waco, TX 76711 89%919$53,185$153,000$125 less walkable
Amarillo, TX 79102 89%1,014$51,125$153,100$123 older homes

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.