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 Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Kalamazoo: median income $56,432, home value $157,300, $137/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mobile, AL 36606 92%814$51,303$172,100$132 newer homes
Canton, OH 44714 92%238$55,905$149,500$138 smaller
Watertown, NY 13601 91%500$58,791$172,600$144 larger
Augusta, GA 30904 91%638$46,696$199,200$134 pricier homes ($42K more)
Steubenville, OH 43952 91%287$47,624$124,300$131 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 91%224$63,342$167,300$170 Very close on everything we compare
Wilkes Barre, PA 18705 90%504$59,344$140,700$118 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46615 90%54$62,964$139,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Evansville, IN 47714 90%316$55,910$133,400$109 larger
Bethany, OK 73008 90%800$57,459$173,200$139 newer homes
Cortland, NY 13045 89%478$69,961$167,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Scranton, PA 18505 89%512$52,398$156,700$121 older residents
Waterloo, IA 50702 89%347$62,021$150,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71104 89%811$56,833$164,000$97 smaller
Abilene, TX 79605 89%1,033$62,929$163,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsport, PA 17701 87%446$53,237$183,900$127 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Dubuque, IA 52001 87%263$61,643$178,000$136 larger
Rock Island, IL 61201 87%264$59,396$125,600$121 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · more homeowners
Oswego, NY 13126 86%467$65,346$145,400$147 larger · more homeowners
Fredonia, NY 14063 86%317$57,937$183,500$146 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Lock Haven, PA 17745 86%425$58,555$177,100$120 newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46203 86%177$57,393$168,200$137 larger · more walkable
Elkhart, IN 46516 86%46$56,492$153,400$147 larger
Great Falls, MT 59401 86%1,303$55,299$223,200$159 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Waco, TX 76711 86%980$53,185$153,000$125 smaller · 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.