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 Indianapolis, IN 46201

Indianapolis: median income $49,195, home value $170,100, $103/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45216 89%95$44,099$155,300$120 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44111 87%255$57,252$141,800$145 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32206 86%698$39,242$173,400$134 smaller
Dayton, OH 45410 86%104$46,651$110,600$99 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Buffalo, NY 14215 84%437$44,955$111,600$115 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Detroit, MI 48221 84%239$57,878$154,600$100 more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15210 83%327$52,169$98,600$76 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53216 83%248$46,752$143,400$125 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63111 83%237$47,039$128,400$101 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45211 82%91$53,868$169,500$142 newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53209 82%250$48,486$166,700$137 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55411 82%514$60,225$245,400$145 pricier homes ($75K more)
Buffalo, NY 14206 81%435$50,450$125,100$122 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 81%433$51,004$126,000$117 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Lynchburg, VA 24504 81%416$52,571$179,700$124 smaller · older residents
Memphis, TN 38122 81%382$48,710$123,000$117 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44109 80%258$42,872$122,200$124 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cleveland, OH 44119 80%270$44,077$117,100$97 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63116 80%237$61,433$174,100$177 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64124 80%452$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Wichita, KS 67218 80%619$49,059$122,300$118 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68108 80%526$53,609$159,700$168 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78210 80%1,002$55,028$189,400$174 Very close on everything we compare
Amarillo, TX 79102 80%917$51,125$153,100$123 smaller · newer homes
Utica, NY 13501 79%608$52,548$157,500$106 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.