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 Hammond, IN 46320

Hammond: median income $37,158, home value $135,000, $133/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45205 87%232$43,682$127,900$106 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48215 83%240$33,812$111,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45403 82%217$38,323$87,500$109 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more walkable
San Antonio, TX 78226 82%1,046$33,398$107,100$138 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · newer homes
Rockford, IL 61104 81%92$33,772$90,100$100 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Akron, OH 44310 80%313$41,066$99,400$105 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Forest Park, GA 30297 79%579$45,124$152,900$124 larger · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44109 78%300$42,872$122,200$124 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Dayton, OH 45404 78%216$38,874$86,900$119 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53218 78%107$45,642$133,400$139 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Riverdale, IL 60827 78%7$37,217$153,500$135 larger · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
El Paso, TX 79930 78%1,245$42,099$135,000$134 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more walkable
Rochester, NY 14613 77%515$37,778$120,600$84 more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Columbus, OH 43223 77%260$46,911$131,100$144 larger · newer homes
Kansas City, KS 66101 77%412$42,551$106,300$123 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 9 min shorter commute · more walkable
Buffalo, NY 14211 76%453$36,300$106,400$99 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Euclid, OH 44132 76%310$47,969$125,300$128 older residents · more walkable · newer homes
Springfield, OH 45505 76%227$43,819$95,500$141 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Melvindale, MI 48122 76%227$42,185$125,800$118 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53216 76%105$46,752$143,400$125 larger · more walkable
Houston, TX 77012 76%930$45,025$162,200$156 pricier homes ($27K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14621 75%517$35,383$90,700$100 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45204 75%232$31,236$95,400$121 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45216 75%230$44,099$155,300$120 5 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63111 75%256$47,039$128,400$101 more walkable

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.