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 46208

Indianapolis: median income $60,062, home value $220,500, $114/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38112 93%384$55,207$252,100$130 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Wichita, KS 67208 91%615$60,914$183,300$126 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68502 90%558$68,523$227,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43606 89%185$66,917$169,000$130 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64110 86%451$63,044$256,700$194 pricier homes ($36K more)
Des Moines, IA 50311 85%411$61,957$226,500$202 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63116 85%235$61,433$174,100$177 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45212 84%103$72,422$257,700$183 pricier homes ($37K more)
Roanoke, VA 24015 83%379$69,831$267,500$154 pricier homes ($47K more) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55411 83%509$60,225$245,400$145 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 83%688$69,827$249,200$186 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74104 82%589$54,691$246,000$189 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Memphis, TN 38111 81%386$52,589$190,100$136 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 81%218$70,119$243,500$200 larger · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73107 81%691$56,873$159,300$147 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14609 80%502$64,603$161,600$167 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 80%326$68,287$215,700$153 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Chattanooga, TN 37404 80%335$56,637$255,400$195 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Lansing, MI 48912 80%218$54,429$150,200$123 cheaper homes ($70K less) · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40217 79%114$69,114$233,800$199 smaller · older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 79%216$61,461$199,300$188 larger
Omaha, NE 68105 79%523$57,533$208,800$162 more renters · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14619 78%497$68,333$134,700$129 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Covington, KY 41014 78%104$61,382$164,700$147 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63139 78%236$75,757$209,600$205 Very close on everything we compare

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.