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 Springfield, OH 45505

Springfield: median income $43,819, home value $95,500, $141/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Battle Creek, MI 49037 92%184$42,690$99,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Melvindale, MI 48122 90%167$42,185$125,800$118 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Inkster, MI 48141 90%166$39,252$80,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49202 90%166$42,632$116,100$122 6 min shorter commute
Rockford, IL 61101 90%323$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46404 89%221$42,256$95,200$92 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75702 89%827$51,564$115,200$113 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 88%807$46,810$123,000$136 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61102 87%322$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 86%685$43,538$99,200$99 newer homes
Gary, IN 46408 86%218$47,453$102,600$86 Very close on everything we compare
Waco, TX 76707 86%945$40,443$126,200$131 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Pontiac, MI 48340 85%192$47,891$119,900$116 newer homes
Rockford, IL 61103 85%321$51,161$115,500$98 older residents
Bartlesville, OK 74003 85%696$47,168$113,500$103 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, NM 88203 85%1,232$42,207$126,600$117 pricier homes ($31K more) · more homeowners
Gary, IN 46406 84%222$35,839$91,700$97 smaller
Fort Smith, AR 72901 84%660$42,851$118,100$113 6 min shorter commute
Fort Smith, AR 72904 84%658$41,909$111,500$108 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
San Angelo, TX 76903 84%1,099$49,498$125,700$149 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Warren, MI 48089 83%181$52,366$122,100$123 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64501 83%586$46,731$98,600$114 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74115 83%708$44,608$83,800$126 more walkable
Jackson, TN 38301 82%404$43,227$132,900$128 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · newer homes
Ecorse, MI 48229 82%165$40,264$65,400$90 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller

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.