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 64056

Independence: median income $67,685, home value $198,400, $160/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46221 97%438$65,280$191,300$149 larger
Harvard, IL 60033 97%378$68,633$203,300$174 Very close on everything we compare
Zion, IL 60099 94%411$66,109$196,700$187 larger
Duncanville, TX 75116 94%469$67,390$237,500$172 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hillsboro, TX 76645 93%515$63,737$199,100$137 smaller
Houston, TX 77045 93%658$59,688$181,200$150 larger
Milan, TN 38358 92%377$62,639$163,300$152 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76134 92%477$70,945$239,000$156 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Kannapolis, NC 28083 91%796$66,257$224,700$201 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45240 91%526$71,947$203,700$157 larger
El Reno, OK 73036 91%317$59,915$172,500$142 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Waco, TX 76708 91%545$68,856$219,900$165 larger
Petersburg, VA 23805 90%931$60,807$233,400$173 pricier homes ($35K more)
Griffin, GA 30224 89%693$70,216$239,100$155 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · newer homes
Pensacola, FL 32506 89%722$62,486$206,100$164 larger · older residents
Greencastle, IN 46135 89%402$73,677$225,600$143 pricier homes ($27K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46229 89%449$61,388$191,100$137 larger
Griffith, IN 46319 89%402$74,662$203,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Westland, MI 48186 89%615$65,187$174,000$157 larger
Rochelle, IL 61068 89%339$73,214$171,300$148 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pryor, OK 74361 89%202$58,681$218,100$153 5 min shorter commute
Mesquite, TX 75149 89%456$70,774$227,200$168 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Greenville, TX 75401 89%422$59,908$168,000$155 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Temple, TX 76501 89%580$62,532$172,500$138 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77053 89%661$66,510$172,900$146 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger

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.