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 46205

Indianapolis: median income $72,417, home value $304,500, $135/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43206 92%168$75,806$317,300$193 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45212 90%101$72,422$257,700$183 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55104 90%503$75,712$317,700$207 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45227 88%104$71,646$298,800$224 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 87%324$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Cleveland, OH 44118 87%267$77,555$224,500$161 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63109 87%238$69,938$264,700$201 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Roanoke, VA 24015 86%377$69,831$267,500$154 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55407 86%506$78,464$335,400$228 pricier homes ($31K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45213 85%102$76,356$286,100$212 smaller
Omaha, NE 68132 85%527$68,221$333,900$193 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lincoln, NE 68502 85%560$68,523$227,300$153 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 85%690$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 84%333$67,960$217,500$190 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 84%218$70,119$243,500$200 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Kansas City, MO 64110 83%453$63,044$256,700$194 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 82%332$63,086$321,100$226 smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15211 82%326$79,758$219,900$206 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40206 82%111$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Covington, KY 41011 82%101$69,970$304,200$204 newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53207 82%236$79,117$243,600$241 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63130 82%238$85,823$316,100$202 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78212 81%1,002$62,801$330,600$197 pricier homes ($26K more)
Albany, NY 12208 80%670$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Albany, NY 12209 80%670$89,390$217,100$168 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · 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.