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 Hazel Park, MI 48030

Hazel Park: median income $67,073, home value $158,600, $169/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hammond, IN 46324 93%234$63,052$158,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Latonia, KY 41015 92%249$65,683$187,700$156 pricier homes ($29K more)
Cleveland, OH 44129 90%102$70,651$166,400$175 larger
Joliet, IL 60433 90%263$66,515$172,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64507 90%637$61,158$140,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, OH 45042 89%213$69,520$202,200$156 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
South Bend, IN 46615 89%169$62,964$139,600$146 more apartments and townhomes
Wichita, KS 67204 89%819$71,999$163,300$155 larger
Beaver Falls, PA 15010 88%184$71,200$192,900$156 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Monaca, PA 15061 88%191$73,010$209,800$194 pricier homes ($51K more)
Berea, OH 44017 88%99$75,231$198,400$170 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hammond, IN 46323 88%231$59,688$166,400$138 larger
Knoxville, TN 37914 87%449$59,856$218,300$186 pricier homes ($60K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45231 87%235$71,353$176,000$156 larger
Springfield, OH 45504 87%178$69,960$180,600$151 more apartments and townhomes
Perry, IA 50220 87%565$71,671$149,400$147 smaller
Bradley, IL 60915 87%262$60,563$156,700$176 Very close on everything we compare
Florissant, MO 63031 87%456$70,811$154,300$141 larger · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64133 87%640$67,750$178,500$140 larger
Kansas City, KS 66104 87%647$61,338$141,500$144 larger
Rochester, NY 14616 86%281$66,499$147,300$175 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Toledo, OH 43611 86%56$62,042$132,000$145 cheaper homes ($27K less)
South Bend, IN 46628 86%172$61,759$182,200$133 larger
Des Moines, IA 50313 86%542$68,361$175,100$187 7 min shorter commute
Beloit, WI 53511 86%305$67,067$173,500$164 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.