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 Independence, MO 64052

Independence: median income $59,007, home value $150,600, $139/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cleveland, OH 44135 96%686$53,848$132,800$154 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44125 95%695$57,363$116,500$127 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 94%510$53,359$140,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux City, IA 51103 94%259$58,197$142,900$138 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43227 92%619$48,159$152,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44144 92%689$60,223$149,900$161 older residents
Joliet, IL 60433 92%377$66,515$172,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66104 92%13$61,338$141,500$144 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74112 92%217$58,951$160,800$153 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45420 91%552$60,588$131,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46203 91%447$57,393$168,200$137 larger
Joliet, IL 60436 91%371$62,961$180,800$182 pricier homes ($30K more)
Toledo, OH 43611 90%604$62,042$132,000$145 more homeowners
Beloit, WI 53511 90%370$67,067$173,500$164 larger
Fort Worth, TX 76111 90%463$60,194$216,400$188 pricier homes ($66K more)
Roanoke, VA 24017 89%794$47,360$150,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40216 89%469$56,441$167,100$150 larger
Toledo, OH 43613 89%599$64,384$136,200$132 5 min shorter commute
Maple Heights, OH 44137 89%698$53,918$98,100$126 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Hamilton, OH 45015 89%531$48,312$120,700$169 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46241 89%439$53,653$130,200$129 younger residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 89%510$58,685$153,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 89%508$52,253$133,100$156 smaller
Des Moines, IA 50315 89%176$60,590$173,200$187 larger
Houston, TX 77020 89%644$50,119$163,300$175 Very close on everything we compare

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.