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 Melvindale, MI 48122

Melvindale: median income $42,185, home value $125,800, $118/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, OH 44707 91%142$44,943$109,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, OH 45505 90%167$43,819$95,500$141 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Waco, TX 76707 89%1,068$40,443$126,200$131 8 min shorter commute
Lorain, OH 44052 88%77$45,023$116,000$122 larger · older residents
Steubenville, OH 43952 87%187$47,624$124,300$131 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64129 87%633$51,310$119,400$125 newer homes
Hammond, IN 46327 86%227$47,288$142,100$182 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46408 86%221$47,453$102,600$86 older residents
Mobile, AL 36611 85%840$46,559$117,500$88 smaller · newer homes
Lorain, OH 44055 85%79$40,636$101,400$123 larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73115 85%899$46,810$123,000$136 larger · newer homes
Tyler, TX 75702 85%954$51,564$115,200$113 larger
Memphis, TN 38122 84%611$48,710$123,000$117 larger · more walkable
Akron, OH 44301 84%121$51,321$104,700$105 older homes
Akron, OH 44320 84%117$41,241$104,700$109 older residents
Gary, IN 46404 84%221$42,256$95,200$92 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Rockford, IL 61102 84%304$46,599$98,900$105 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Bartlesville, OK 74003 84%781$47,168$113,500$103 6 min shorter commute
Roswell, NM 88203 84%1,312$42,207$126,600$117 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 83%197$45,923$103,600$82 smaller · older residents
Canton, OH 44705 83%139$43,439$81,400$131 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Canton, OH 44710 83%138$47,305$104,600$110 9 min shorter commute
Hamilton, OH 45015 83%215$48,312$120,700$169 older residents
Gary, IN 46406 83%222$35,839$91,700$97 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more renters · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63134 83%448$44,680$94,700$115 cheaper homes ($31K less)

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.