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 63021

Ballwin: median income $120,177, home value $349,500, $192/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, MI 48309 96%477$121,007$424,600$196 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Tallahassee, FL 32309 95%663$113,412$376,000$206 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35226 93%413$124,516$411,000$193 pricier homes ($62K more)
West Chester, OH 45069 93%333$114,631$345,000$192 Very close on everything we compare
Canonsburg, PA 15317 92%565$108,044$354,500$198 Very close on everything we compare
Sylvania, OH 43560 92%420$109,486$285,700$168 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Dayton, OH 45458 92%348$110,150$362,700$175 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, MI 48170 92%453$114,278$417,600$228 pricier homes ($68K more)
Fairport, NY 14450 91%751$109,466$308,200$221 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Loveland, OH 45140 91%340$114,827$360,300$207 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45244 91%334$109,287$382,100$201 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Canton, MI 48187 91%452$120,321$364,200$196 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, MI 48188 91%451$122,781$384,700$192 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Allison Park, PA 15101 90%579$114,634$334,500$227 smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 90%574$109,895$326,700$216 older homes
Hummelstown, PA 17036 90%746$115,533$349,700$176 smaller
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 90%729$113,720$372,900$192 newer homes
Mason, OH 45040 90%338$133,240$440,000$209 pricier homes ($91K more) · newer homes
Osseo, MN 55369 90%477$112,144$376,400$205 pricier homes ($27K more)
Batavia, IL 60510 90%254$121,622$392,200$237 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Shawnee, KS 66216 90%228$111,744$353,300$182 smaller
Edmond, OK 73034 90%433$109,700$393,300$183 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
South Windsor, CT 06074 89%973$144,961$375,100$256 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Midlothian, VA 23112 89%705$116,465$398,400$225 pricier homes ($49K more)
Marietta, GA 30066 89%459$116,074$403,200$205 pricier homes ($54K 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.