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 Markham, IL 60428

Markham: median income $60,000, home value $136,000, $143/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Station, IN 46405 76%22$60,881$139,200$139 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75241 75%793$53,998$192,000$163 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77029 74%921$48,279$135,100$144 8 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77053 74%936$66,510$172,900$146 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Harper Woods, MI 48225 73%251$61,750$153,800$102 10 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77016 73%916$47,677$125,000$143 larger · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Crystal City, MO 63019 72%273$72,569$186,000$164 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · older residents
Mckeesport, PA 15133 71%417$65,938$97,500$100 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Masontown, PA 15461 71%425$57,596$124,900$112 smaller · 7 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
New Lexington, OH 43764 71%316$62,083$153,200$168 older residents · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Eastpointe, MI 48021 71%251$62,325$142,200$111 larger · 10 min shorter commute · less walkable
Hammond, IN 46324 70%10$63,052$158,800$147 larger · 11 min shorter commute · less walkable
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 70%232$60,195$140,600$144 larger · 11 min shorter commute · less walkable
Garden City, MI 48135 70%229$67,294$168,800$171 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents
Redford, MI 48239 70%232$71,151$158,800$129 larger · 11 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75232 70%796$61,847$220,100$164 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Hazel Park, MI 48030 69%243$67,073$158,600$169 12 min shorter commute
Independence, MO 64054 69%395$59,719$117,600$140 smaller · 11 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Kansas City, MO 64129 69%400$51,310$119,400$125 9 min shorter commute · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77045 69%934$59,688$181,200$150 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78221 69%1,042$63,811$171,200$134 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Lamesa, TX 79331 69%994$54,000$101,800$112 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 11 min shorter commute · less walkable
Independence, MO 64056 68%391$67,685$198,400$160 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Osawatomie, KS 66064 68%440$67,321$172,100$164 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73141 68%671$58,670$141,100$150 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · less walkable

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.