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 Southfield, MI 48075

Southfield: median income $65,384, home value $227,000, $135/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlisle, PA 17013 91%348$71,042$233,300$179 larger
Morgantown, WV 26501 91%260$63,529$219,800$157 less walkable
New Orleans, LA 70131 91%945$62,389$237,700$124 Very close on everything we compare
Indiana, PA 15701 90%246$56,311$173,900$140 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Dallastown, PA 17313 90%384$70,176$237,900$163 smaller
High Point, NC 27262 90%480$65,006$236,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
West Columbia, SC 29169 90%596$57,122$209,200$160 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45246 90%229$65,370$205,500$166 smaller
Dayton, OH 45440 90%198$82,383$267,900$158 pricier homes ($41K more)
Bellevue, NE 68005 90%659$66,551$205,900$153 Very close on everything we compare
Brockport, NY 14420 89%273$75,577$191,900$165 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 89%217$75,611$228,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43614 89%63$58,961$168,400$141 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 89%432$73,439$194,000$133 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Peoria, IL 61614 89%350$66,924$172,100$118 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64131 89%641$64,201$234,200$175 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71105 89%898$67,968$213,000$120 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15205 88%214$70,991$179,900$175 cheaper homes ($47K less)
York, PA 17403 88%380$75,384$220,500$147 larger
Lakeland, FL 33803 88%1,001$65,807$250,100$194 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45215 88%232$69,372$226,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45224 88%236$56,471$204,000$150 older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53223 88%246$60,839$203,100$156 Very close on everything we compare
Appleton, WI 54911 88%288$67,001$216,100$174 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68506 88%702$72,637$258,600$157 pricier homes ($32K more)

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.