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.

Reset

Towns most like Springfield, IL 62703

Springfield: median income $45,009, home value $96,500, $97/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45406 92%286$41,796$85,000$88 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72204 91%379$40,882$124,700$84 pricier homes ($28K more)
Roanoke, VA 24017 90%548$47,360$150,600$114 pricier homes ($54K more)
Toledo, OH 43612 90%344$50,728$93,800$107 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44128 90%439$43,993$98,500$98 6 min longer commute
Flint, MI 48503 90%381$44,411$83,800$65 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64130 89%267$42,221$86,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67211 89%439$44,120$109,400$95 smaller
Wichita, KS 67213 89%441$50,170$89,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74106 89%425$40,776$109,500$123 smaller
Flint, MI 48507 88%378$46,554$111,300$88 less walkable
Toledo, OH 43607 87%342$41,335$75,900$77 younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63121 87%81$42,701$95,600$100 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74127 87%428$46,373$134,200$126 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Terre Haute, IN 47804 86%120$40,674$94,200$88 smaller · older homes
Wichita, KS 67218 86%437$49,059$122,300$118 pricier homes ($26K more) · more apartments and townhomes
North Little Rock, AR 72118 86%371$49,559$123,100$108 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 86%520$40,340$120,700$111 smaller · older residents
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 85%595$51,004$126,000$117 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44125 85%435$57,363$116,500$127 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 85%252$53,359$140,800$135 pricier homes ($44K more)
Detroit, MI 48235 85%382$39,265$90,000$85 larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63135 85%79$52,328$107,400$92 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64132 85%268$45,622$108,000$98 smaller
Louisville, KY 40215 84%233$43,725$114,900$143 more renters

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.