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 46324

Hammond: median income $63,052, home value $158,800, $147/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Joliet, IL 60433 95%29$66,515$172,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66104 95%414$61,338$141,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Eastpointe, MI 48021 94%242$62,325$142,200$111 larger
Lincoln Park, MI 48146 94%227$58,616$131,000$130 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Wyandotte, MI 48192 94%227$71,987$166,900$152 Very close on everything we compare
Alliance, OH 44601 93%335$61,965$154,600$140 larger
Hazel Park, MI 48030 93%234$67,073$158,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 92%223$60,195$140,600$144 more single-family homes
Garden City, MI 48135 92%220$67,294$168,800$171 Very close on everything we compare
Westland, MI 48186 92%218$65,187$174,000$157 larger · newer homes
Roseville, MI 48066 91%243$62,182$155,800$133 larger
Harper Woods, MI 48225 91%242$61,750$153,800$102 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66106 91%418$61,331$168,800$181 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40216 90%251$56,441$167,100$150 larger
Conneaut, OH 44030 90%358$63,533$145,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, OH 45042 90%216$69,520$202,200$156 pricier homes ($43K more)
Piqua, OH 45356 90%197$69,188$156,400$134 6 min shorter commute
Southgate, MI 48195 90%225$66,118$173,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Redford, MI 48240 90%223$60,390$135,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Bradley, IL 60915 90%36$60,563$156,700$176 smaller
New Brighton, PA 15066 89%379$63,836$153,300$135 smaller · older residents
Fremont, OH 43420 89%228$61,331$152,900$137 6 min shorter commute
Toledo, OH 43611 89%207$62,042$132,000$145 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Barberton, OH 44203 89%308$63,759$159,700$165 larger · older residents
Shelby, OH 44875 89%257$61,276$161,500$139 smaller · less 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.