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 46619

South Bend: median income $48,081, home value $105,400, $123/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gadsden, AL 35904 94%528$43,771$117,700$105 smaller
Ironton, OH 45638 94%290$52,728$119,000$121 Very close on everything we compare
Rockford, IL 61102 93%150$46,599$98,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Struthers, OH 44471 92%299$54,571$106,300$128 smaller
Warren, OH 44483 91%286$49,017$108,800$119 Very close on everything we compare
Holdenville, OK 74848 91%709$52,614$106,700$107 smaller
Lamesa, TX 79331 91%1,056$54,000$101,800$112 smaller
Snyder, TX 79549 91%1,010$59,147$112,000$122 newer homes
Parkersburg, WV 26101 90%301$48,710$117,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Pampa, TX 79065 90%895$58,912$110,000$97 Very close on everything we compare
New Castle, PA 16101 89%314$51,128$110,600$110 older residents
East Liverpool, OH 43920 89%305$50,251$116,200$132 older residents
Lincoln Park, MI 48146 89%166$58,616$131,000$130 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Flint, MI 48506 89%168$47,929$91,900$104 6 min longer commute
Granite City, IL 62040 89%285$60,031$112,000$106 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 89%468$58,801$127,100$112 smaller
Port Arthur, TX 77640 89%920$50,973$109,600$116 newer homes
Abilene, TX 79603 89%974$53,513$120,900$134 6 min shorter commute
Roswell, NM 88203 89%1,148$42,207$126,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Ashtabula, OH 44004 88%285$51,034$127,700$150 older residents
Akron, OH 44305 88%255$52,768$99,700$127 more renters
Campbell, OH 44405 88%300$42,644$82,600$118 smaller
Bucyrus, OH 44820 88%184$58,223$141,400$132 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Fostoria, OH 44830 88%154$62,990$121,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Bay City, MI 48708 88%181$50,518$107,700$104 Very close on everything we compare

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.