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 Ballwin, MO 63011

Ballwin: median income $124,454, home value $400,900, $188/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Akron, OH 44333 94%505$131,821$382,200$191 smaller
Germantown, TN 38138 93%247$136,297$430,200$171 pricier homes ($29K more)
Sugar Land, TX 77478 93%685$118,495$404,600$182 smaller
Manlius, NY 13104 92%820$127,933$337,100$212 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Allison Park, PA 15101 92%580$114,634$334,500$227 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Rochester, MI 48309 92%477$121,007$424,600$196 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, WI 53005 92%333$126,739$415,800$239 smaller
Solon, OH 44139 91%519$138,425$389,700$211 less walkable
Plymouth, MI 48170 91%453$114,278$417,600$228 Very close on everything we compare
East Amherst, NY 14051 90%691$135,663$421,300$238 smaller
Sewickley, PA 15143 90%570$132,674$454,900$257 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35226 90%416$124,516$411,000$193 younger residents
Farmington, MI 48331 90%462$127,633$410,000$182 smaller
Cheshire, CT 06410 89%953$145,179$438,900$262 pricier homes ($38K more)
Schenectady, NY 12309 89%919$125,274$330,700$221 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32309 89%666$113,412$376,000$206 Very close on everything we compare
Longwood, FL 32779 89%861$121,826$480,200$249 pricier homes ($79K more)
Brecksville, OH 44141 89%508$133,875$372,100$199 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Minnetonka, MN 55345 89%461$145,332$504,000$227 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Shawnee, KS 66216 89%226$111,744$353,300$182 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 88%575$109,895$326,700$216 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15241 88%571$153,936$422,700$235 higher income ($29K more) · smaller
Marietta, GA 30062 88%465$132,631$491,200$220 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32312 88%664$123,032$432,100$228 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Avon Lake, OH 44012 88%494$115,567$368,300$213 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 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.