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 45506

Springfield: median income $42,104, home value $107,300, $102/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46404 94%219$42,256$95,200$92 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61102 92%320$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49202 91%165$42,632$116,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, IA 52544 91%480$50,572$116,900$119 smaller
Rockford, IL 61101 91%321$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IA 50703 90%477$50,060$95,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlesville, OK 74003 90%694$47,168$113,500$103 younger residents
Parkersburg, WV 26101 89%130$48,710$117,500$105 larger
Sheffield, AL 35660 89%415$40,065$135,400$113 pricier homes ($28K more)
Mobile, AL 36605 89%684$43,538$99,200$99 larger · newer homes
Gary, IN 46408 89%217$47,453$102,600$86 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Salamanca, NY 14779 88%308$42,593$85,900$104 smaller · older homes
Rockford, IL 61103 88%320$51,161$115,500$98 larger
Okmulgee, OK 74447 88%725$48,432$113,600$109 newer homes
Roswell, NM 88203 88%1,230$42,207$126,600$117 larger
New Castle, PA 16101 87%199$51,128$110,600$110 larger
Clarksburg, WV 26301 87%190$49,816$133,300$107 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Galesburg, IL 61401 87%351$50,546$100,600$91 larger
Sweetwater, TX 79556 87%1,055$49,393$94,900$111 newer homes
Las Animas, CO 81054 87%1,042$48,398$134,100$109 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Elmira, NY 14904 86%395$53,174$92,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Farrell, PA 16121 86%197$42,595$87,800— smaller
Huntington, WV 25702 86%128$40,708$82,900$76 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Gadsden, AL 35904 86%425$43,771$117,700$105 more homeowners
Muncie, IN 47302 86%84$47,837$76,800$93 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger

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.