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 Dearborn Heights, MI 48127

Dearborn Heights: median income $60,742, home value $231,800, $174/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Latonia, KY 41015 92%238$65,683$187,700$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Greenville, SC 29605 91%523$65,648$256,300$189 newer homes
Knoxville, TN 37914 91%439$59,856$218,300$186 smaller · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63125 91%453$61,624$178,600$155 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Dallas, TX 75232 91%997$61,847$220,100$164 Very close on everything we compare
Beloit, WI 53511 90%296$67,067$173,500$164 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Beaver Falls, PA 15010 89%186$71,200$192,900$156 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Portsmouth, VA 23701 89%530$62,349$235,200$203 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45231 89%224$71,353$176,000$156 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Fairmont, WV 26554 88%253$69,712$183,900$151 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Mount Vernon, OH 43050 88%141$64,108$220,300$168 older residents · less walkable
Berea, OH 44017 88%99$75,231$198,400$170 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Des Moines, IA 50317 88%528$65,617$177,600$203 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Racine, WI 53402 88%231$75,751$230,800$190 older residents
Kansas City, KS 66106 88%639$61,331$168,800$181 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Tyler, TX 75701 88%954$66,401$213,700$142 more renters
Vineland, NJ 08360 87%475$65,359$221,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14616 87%292$66,499$147,300$175 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37411 87%516$56,579$232,300$162 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44129 87%103$70,651$166,400$175 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
Ashland, OH 44805 87%114$68,299$174,300$153 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable
Middletown, OH 45042 87%202$69,520$202,200$156 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Hammond, IN 46323 87%220$59,688$166,400$138 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Michigan City, IN 46360 87%189$59,266$167,300$157 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents
South Bend, IN 46628 87%161$61,759$182,200$133 cheaper homes ($50K 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.