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.

Reset

Towns most like South Bend, IN 46613

South Bend: median income $42,537, home value $82,800, $99/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Independence, MO 64053 89%467$47,285$80,200$129 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63134 86%295$44,680$94,700$115 newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74110 86%644$42,054$71,400$122 newer homes
Canton, OH 44710 84%258$47,305$104,600$110 older residents
Kansas City, MO 64130 84%473$42,221$86,300$93 larger · older residents · newer homes
Akron, OH 44301 83%249$51,321$104,700$105 older residents
Akron, OH 44314 83%247$47,468$88,400$99 older residents · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74115 83%642$44,608$83,800$126 larger · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48210 82%167$37,838$67,800$81 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Melvindale, MI 48122 81%163$42,185$125,800$118 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Akron, OH 44306 80%250$41,688$81,400$88 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Canton, OH 44705 80%261$43,439$81,400$131 older residents · newer homes
Saginaw, MI 48602 79%168$46,984$73,600$75 larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63137 79%290$43,422$82,900$93 larger · older residents · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64132 79%474$45,622$108,000$98 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74126 79%643$42,172$69,200$125 newer homes
Springfield, OH 45505 78%176$43,819$95,500$141 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Detroit, MI 48209 78%167$43,161$89,000$87 larger · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Detroit, MI 48224 78%177$44,856$88,700$68 larger · 5 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63121 78%295$42,701$95,600$100 larger · newer homes
Hutchinson, KS 67501 78%667$50,859$86,000$90 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Omaha, NE 68111 78%503$42,185$116,400$124 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Waco, TX 76707 78%922$40,443$126,200$131 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Akron, OH 44310 77%249$41,066$99,400$105 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Ecorse, MI 48229 77%164$40,264$65,400$90 older residents · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes

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.