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 Lima, OH 45801

Lima: median income $51,731, home value $123,900, $132/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Abilene, TX 79603 94%1,038$53,513$120,900$134 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 93%812$46,810$123,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
San Angelo, TX 76903 93%1,112$49,498$125,700$149 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, VA 24541 92%383$51,427$145,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Okmulgee, OK 74447 92%735$48,432$113,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MI 49202 91%105$42,632$116,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Kankakee, IL 60901 91%198$58,309$151,200$135 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Mattoon, IL 61938 91%243$57,503$111,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlesville, OK 74003 91%698$47,168$113,500$103 smaller
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 91%923$54,159$143,400$117 smaller
Elkhart, IN 46516 90%116$56,492$153,400$147 pricier homes ($30K more)
Richmond, IN 47374 90%77$50,766$130,700$124 larger
Evansville, IN 47710 90%266$47,292$147,300$125 Very close on everything we compare
Centerville, IA 52544 90%459$50,572$116,900$119 smaller
Chickasha, OK 73018 90%852$56,484$141,400$122 newer homes
Cushing, OK 74023 90%760$49,097$145,400$110 smaller
Decatur, AL 35601 89%455$51,429$172,200$134 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Mobile, AL 36605 89%735$43,538$99,200$99 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, TN 38301 89%439$43,227$132,900$128 larger · newer homes
Ashland, KY 41101 89%176$53,889$121,600$101 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47714 89%267$55,910$133,400$109 Very close on everything we compare
Port Huron, MI 48060 89%176$53,018$160,900$136 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Battle Creek, MI 49037 89%124$42,690$99,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, IA 50702 89%441$62,021$150,500$123 pricier homes ($27K more)
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 89%615$59,843$152,400$156 pricier homes ($29K more) · 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.