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 South Bend, IN 46616

South Bend: median income $58,537, home value $153,600, $132/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chadron, NE 69337 86%858$54,306$163,800— newer homes
Davenport, IA 52803 84%222$64,543$161,100$122 larger
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 83%55$56,432$157,300$137 larger
Canton, OH 44714 81%262$55,905$149,500$138 larger · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64507 80%467$61,158$140,300$128 larger · newer homes
Fredonia, NY 14063 79%359$57,937$183,500$146 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Rochester, NY 14619 79%451$68,333$134,700$129 larger · more walkable
Scranton, PA 18512 79%551$64,708$176,100$130 larger · older residents
Sayre, PA 18840 79%502$59,214$171,300$136 larger · older residents · newer homes
Wichita, KS 67208 79%647$60,914$183,300$126 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more walkable
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 78%540$59,344$140,700$118 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lansing, MI 48915 78%113$54,465$122,900$121 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more walkable
Hancock, MI 49930 78%393$72,314$214,000$143 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Fayette, IA 52142 78%295$56,875$162,500$105 smaller · less walkable
Dunbar, WV 25064 77%332$57,263$119,900$116 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Mobile, AL 36604 77%767$66,357$249,300$170 pricier homes ($96K more) · older residents
Steubenville, OH 43952 77%307$47,624$124,300$131 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Great Falls, MT 59401 77%1,288$55,299$223,200$159 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Corning, NY 14830 76%475$73,263$169,800$117 larger · older residents
Washington, IA 52353 76%282$63,047$160,500$128 larger · older residents · newer homes
Topeka, KS 66606 76%529$57,169$130,600$115 larger · more walkable
Syracuse, NY 13207 75%523$60,720$123,800$118 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 75%381$51,004$126,000$117 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more walkable
Oneonta, NY 13820 74%577$65,953$182,000$139 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Perry, NY 14530 74%428$64,576$134,900$92 older residents

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.