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 Portsmouth, OH 45662

Portsmouth: median income $36,504, home value $102,200, $89/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46404 94%304$42,256$95,200$92 smaller
Rockford, IL 61101 91%405$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36605 89%635$43,538$99,200$99 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, NC 28501 88%382$35,118$79,000$82 smaller · newer homes
Inkster, MI 48141 87%243$39,252$80,400$105 younger residents
Jackson, MI 49202 87%252$42,632$116,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Pontiac, MI 48342 86%267$35,253$101,300$99 smaller · more renters
Macon, GA 31204 85%413$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Waycross, GA 31501 85%524$37,314$113,600$106 smaller · newer homes
Greenville, MS 38701 85%587$40,854$127,300$92 pricier homes ($25K more) · newer homes
Gary, IN 46408 85%301$47,453$102,600$86 smaller
Rockford, IL 61103 85%404$51,161$115,500$98 Very close on everything we compare
Minden, LA 71055 85%720$36,953$127,000$101 smaller · newer homes
Roswell, NM 88203 85%1,259$42,207$126,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Greenwood, MS 38930 84%544$35,453$112,300$67 younger residents · newer homes
Flint, MI 48507 84%292$46,554$111,300$88 more walkable
Rockford, IL 61102 84%404$46,599$98,900$105 smaller
Memphis, TN 38109 83%472$37,496$80,400$93 larger · more single-family homes · more walkable
Clarksdale, MS 38614 83%530$37,383$92,300$64 smaller · younger residents
Gary, IN 46406 83%305$35,839$91,700$97 smaller · younger residents
Lafayette, LA 70501 83%784$33,365$116,900$79 more renters · newer homes
Parkersburg, WV 26101 82%82$48,710$117,500$105 more homeowners
Muncie, IN 47302 82%162$47,837$76,800$93 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Saginaw, MI 48601 82%323$38,900$62,800$79 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners
Battle Creek, MI 49037 82%273$42,690$99,600$137 younger residents

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.