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 45440

Dayton: median income $82,383, home value $267,900, $158/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Little Rock, AR 72116 95%559$79,010$232,600$132 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Memphis, TN 38119 94%447$89,289$296,700$147 pricier homes ($29K more)
Louisville, KY 40220 94%129$78,434$264,200$160 larger
Maryland Heights, MO 63043 94%345$91,509$227,600$177 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Omaha, NE 68137 94%639$80,739$252,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68144 94%640$83,576$269,600$171 Very close on everything we compare
Hamden, CT 06514 93%598$88,900$270,800$217 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32504 93%658$72,672$275,800$179 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70006 93%751$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($77K more)
Rensselaer, NY 12144 92%578$90,738$249,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, MI 48083 92%206$90,794$315,800$199 pricier homes ($48K more)
Haslett, MI 48840 92%213$73,408$280,900$184 smaller
Lansing, MI 48917 92%213$70,990$222,900$149 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Liverpool, NY 13090 91%474$88,492$213,100$195 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Clinton, NY 13323 91%509$78,224$244,600$193 smaller
Monroeville, PA 15146 91%236$79,300$210,000$169 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Reading, PA 19607 91%432$81,346$228,800$183 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Farmington, MI 48336 91%197$88,938$259,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Holt, MI 48842 91%206$88,340$225,900$153 cheaper homes ($42K less) · newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68506 91%665$72,637$258,600$157 more walkable
New Orleans, LA 70123 91%755$83,585$348,100$187 pricier homes ($80K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 90%221$75,611$228,700$190 cheaper homes ($39K less)
York, PA 17402 90%396$81,166$250,400$166 larger
Christiansburg, VA 24073 90%266$76,800$253,200$190 newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 90%112$85,833$258,700$150 newer 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.