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 Gary, IN 46408

Gary: median income $47,453, home value $102,600, $86/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rockford, IL 61102 96%103$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44314 93%303$47,468$88,400$99 5 min shorter commute
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 92%360$45,923$103,600$82 smaller
Rockford, IL 61101 91%104$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Vandergrift, PA 15690 90%412$55,457$111,800$90 smaller
Mobile, AL 36605 90%755$43,538$99,200$99 larger
Akron, OH 44305 90%308$52,768$99,700$127 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44320 90%302$41,241$104,700$109 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48506 90%218$47,929$91,900$104 larger
Brownfield, TX 79316 90%1,001$43,063$103,900$89 smaller
Lorain, OH 44052 89%268$45,023$116,000$122 larger
Lorain, OH 44055 89%270$40,636$101,400$123 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, OH 44483 89%340$49,017$108,800$119 larger
Springfield, OH 45506 89%217$42,104$107,300$102 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Waterloo, IA 50703 89%264$50,060$95,900$84 9 min shorter commute
Bartlesville, OK 74003 89%569$47,168$113,500$103 7 min shorter commute
Canton, OH 44707 88%317$44,943$109,100$114 smaller
Galena Park, TX 77547 88%927$50,991$111,500$113 smaller · more homeowners
Lamesa, TX 79331 88%1,006$54,000$101,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36611 87%745$46,559$117,500$88 smaller
Ironton, OH 45638 87%324$52,728$119,000$121 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MI 48089 87%233$52,366$122,100$123 larger
Mount Morris, MI 48458 87%217$46,797$95,600$113 Very close on everything we compare
Saginaw, MI 48602 87%216$46,984$73,600$75 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Arkansas City, KS 67005 87%602$54,516$95,400$87 6 min shorter commute

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.