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 East Lansing, MI 48823

East Lansing: median income $52,018, home value $282,600, $173/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bloomington, IN 47408 89%264$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Athens, OH 45701 88%267$53,075$227,400$153 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Gainesville, FL 32607 87%912$45,987$321,900$180 pricier homes ($39K more)
West Lafayette, IN 47906 87%203$53,103$323,200$186 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Morgantown, WV 26505 85%318$45,536$278,000$170 less walkable
State College, PA 16801 84%367$61,836$414,600$228 pricier homes ($132K more)
Oxford, OH 45056 84%224$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Iowa City, IA 52246 84%371$62,521$348,900$176 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Clemson, SC 29631 83%564$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller
Gainesville, FL 32608 83%914$61,588$358,200$206 pricier homes ($76K more) · older residents · newer homes
Columbia, MO 65201 82%486$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Iowa City, IA 52240 81%368$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($40K less) · less walkable
Lawrence, KS 66044 81%616$55,955$235,000$199 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Fargo, ND 58102 79%670$59,533$242,200$144 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
Laramie, WY 82072 79%1,078$53,863$324,100$200 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · less walkable
Blacksburg, VA 24060 78%435$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($165K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32301 78%851$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · older residents
Athens, GA 30605 77%612$50,062$314,200$203 pricier homes ($32K more) · less walkable
Ames, IA 50010 77%468$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($29K less) · less walkable
Manhattan, KS 66502 77%677$54,833$223,100$153 cheaper homes ($60K less) · less walkable
Wilmington, NC 28403 76%687$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($104K more)
Normal, IL 61761 76%279$65,275$214,600$122 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35205 75%651$51,158$293,800$235 smaller · older residents · older homes
Pullman, WA 99163 75%1,616$48,231$435,900$228 pricier homes ($153K more) · less walkable
Greenville, NC 27858 74%624$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable · 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.