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 Lafayette, IN 47901

Lafayette: median income $47,206, home value $256,500, $144/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Schenectady, NY 12305 78%688$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14607 78%515$59,787$350,100$171 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63103 77%216$40,943$202,900$124 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12210 72%696$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44106 72%286$43,170$255,700$144 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14201 71%447$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · more homeowners
Harrisburg, PA 17102 69%526$54,573$193,700$118 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68131 68%478$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more homeowners
Peoria, IL 61602 67%143$33,750$231,000$103 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63108 67%217$55,147$372,200$213 pricier homes ($116K more) · larger · more homeowners
Scranton, PA 18503 64%590$36,107$267,200$185 smaller · 12 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63101 64%215$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23219 63%545$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($124K more)
Spokane, WA 99204 63%1,585$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45219 62%154$35,657$207,900$164 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45220 62%153$53,440$402,900$200 pricier homes ($146K more) · larger · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48202 62%239$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55805 62%512$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74119 62%575$56,234$251,700$125 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21201 61%550$45,640$275,300$178 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 61%444$64,863$260,400$210 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64106 61%418$52,564$238,000$173 larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 60%156$62,648$271,700$213 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63102 60%215$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 60%419$67,235$251,400$251 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.