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 45804

Lima: median income $44,911, home value $99,600, $138/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jackson, MI 49202 93%107$42,632$116,100$122 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79403 92%1,089$47,907$84,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Sweetwater, TX 79556 91%1,067$49,393$94,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Battle Creek, MI 49037 90%126$42,690$99,600$137 larger · younger residents
Centerville, IA 52544 89%460$50,572$116,900$119 smaller
Okmulgee, OK 74447 89%734$48,432$113,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47710 88%264$47,292$147,300$125 pricier homes ($48K more)
San Angelo, TX 76903 88%1,112$49,498$125,700$149 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Waycross, GA 31501 87%664$37,314$113,600$106 newer homes
Rockford, IL 61101 87%282$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, NM 88203 87%1,233$42,207$126,600$117 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Farrell, PA 16121 86%190$42,595$87,800— smaller
Sheffield, AL 35660 86%457$40,065$135,400$113 pricier homes ($36K more)
Mobile, AL 36605 86%732$43,538$99,200$99 larger
Rantoul, IL 61866 86%215$50,686$121,300$112 younger residents
Wichita Falls, TX 76306 86%919$46,957$111,600$131 younger residents
Dawson, GA 39842 85%619$43,871$117,200$122 smaller · newer homes
Gary, IN 46404 85%181$42,256$95,200$92 7 min longer commute
Rockford, IL 61102 85%281$46,599$98,900$105 6 min longer commute
Muskogee, OK 74401 85%709$42,294$149,300$110 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Charleston, WV 25387 84%210$43,063$91,400$122 smaller · more single-family homes
Parkersburg, WV 26101 84%169$48,710$117,500$105 larger · more homeowners
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 84%154$39,499$159,600$149 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Waterloo, IA 50703 84%443$50,060$95,900$84 Very close on everything we compare
Antigo, WI 54409 84%397$53,576$123,300$133 more homeowners

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.