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 46254

Indianapolis: median income $60,287, home value $186,300, $148/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43228 95%167$61,713$219,900$186 pricier homes ($34K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32216 92%712$61,821$266,500$181 pricier homes ($80K more)
San Antonio, TX 78217 92%990$60,988$242,300$150 pricier homes ($56K more)
Laredo, TX 78041 91%1,137$61,544$221,300$152 pricier homes ($35K more)
Toledo, OH 43615 90%184$57,713$153,400$138 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 90%688$60,419$213,500$131 pricier homes ($27K more)
Dover, DE 19901 89%576$66,388$273,000$183 pricier homes ($87K more)
Greensboro, NC 27407 89%437$59,427$223,900$179 pricier homes ($38K more) · less walkable
Pensacola, FL 32514 89%646$66,644$259,600$167 pricier homes ($73K more)
Lakeland, FL 33805 89%850$62,661$197,500$178 Very close on everything we compare
Montgomery, AL 36116 89%521$55,160$149,500$120 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53224 89%246$67,803$211,100$150 smaller · older homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70816 89%704$67,353$240,100$137 pricier homes ($54K more) · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78218 89%991$57,285$190,900$145 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 89%1,051$61,215$197,500$147 older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32303 88%656$62,275$228,000$178 pricier homes ($42K more)
Mobile, AL 36609 88%644$49,830$205,300$133 smaller
San Antonio, TX 78238 88%1,002$57,769$209,700$146 smaller
Memphis, TN 38134 87%377$60,622$207,000$145 more single-family homes
Biloxi, MS 39531 87%670$54,218$211,500$138 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43229 87%175$57,561$228,200$180 pricier homes ($42K more) · older homes
Wichita, KS 67207 87%608$67,889$215,300$122 pricier homes ($29K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77040 87%865$65,028$244,700$152 pricier homes ($58K more) · 5 min longer commute
Hampton, VA 23666 86%567$72,568$253,000$194 pricier homes ($67K more)
Columbia, SC 29210 86%492$50,871$194,400$118 more renters

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.