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 Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Fort Wayne: median income $52,154, home value $154,200, $147/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lansing, MI 48910 95%115$54,712$129,000$130 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68104 94%566$60,549$168,100$158 larger
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 93%341$51,004$126,000$117 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Dayton, OH 45420 93%109$60,588$131,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73107 93%778$56,873$159,300$147 more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74112 93%675$58,951$160,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Racine, WI 53403 92%177$59,820$176,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, NY 13502 91%525$57,835$158,000$154 larger
Columbia, SC 29204 91%538$50,189$199,600$166 pricier homes ($45K more)
Louisville, KY 40213 91%204$55,897$173,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44111 91%175$57,252$141,800$145 larger · older homes
Saint Ann, MO 63074 91%324$51,610$132,700$153 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67218 91%691$49,059$122,300$118 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Corpus Christi, TX 78411 91%1,156$57,742$184,700$143 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Amarillo, TX 79106 91%996$59,493$174,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Topeka, KS 66604 90%578$60,874$139,100$123 5 min shorter commute
Wichita, KS 67203 90%694$52,028$143,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68108 90%562$53,609$159,700$168 older homes
Tulsa, OK 74145 90%676$58,706$171,800$137 newer homes
Rochester, NY 14615 89%409$51,262$137,500$148 Very close on everything we compare
Roanoke, VA 24017 89%380$47,360$150,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43614 89%85$58,961$168,400$141 older residents
Cleveland, OH 44135 89%174$53,848$132,800$154 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux City, IA 51103 89%590$58,197$142,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, IL 61701 89%207$57,130$144,500$114 larger

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.