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 Cedar Rapids, IA 52411

Cedar Rapids: median income $170,491, home value $423,200, $156/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wichita, KS 67230 94%417$149,536$405,800$149 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 92%748$165,898$498,900$217 pricier homes ($76K more)
Topeka, KS 66610 90%299$132,821$341,100$149 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($82K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46278 89%322$158,648$408,900$154 6 min longer commute
Monclova, OH 43542 86%411$148,657$402,000$217 smaller
Mickleton, NJ 08056 84%873$171,389$473,400$223 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · younger residents
Clarence Center, NY 14032 83%669$168,711$502,100$261 pricier homes ($79K more) · 7 min longer commute
Edwards, IL 61528 83%136$183,140$329,300$153 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Sherman, IL 62684 83%185$139,196$305,300$158 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($118K less)
Shawnee, KS 66218 83%261$168,878$436,600$207 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73131 83%543$137,849$343,300$157 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77059 83%881$161,944$416,700$162 larger · 9 min longer commute
Summerfield, NC 27358 81%750$138,717$444,400$205 lower income ($32K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Galena, OH 43021 81%478$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger · younger residents
Crystal Lake, IL 60012 81%175$159,375$417,300$198 10 min longer commute
Lincoln, NE 68523 81%276$141,786$508,600$193 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
Tallahassee, FL 32317 79%905$128,690$369,800$221 lower income ($42K less) · cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 79%427$144,635$497,800$184 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($75K more) · 10 min longer commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 79%339$147,280$399,300$167 larger · younger residents
Hartsburg, MO 65039 79%232$125,714$412,400$176 lower income ($45K less) · smaller
Lenexa, KS 66220 79%266$177,206$590,500$212 pricier homes ($167K more)
Center Valley, PA 18034 78%851$153,200$475,900$235 pricier homes ($53K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Colgate, WI 53017 78%194$153,917$521,700$221 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller · younger residents
Omaha, NE 68118 78%236$133,281$390,700$158 lower income ($37K less) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · more renters
Earlysville, VA 22936 77%748$142,338$589,400$251 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($166K 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.