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 Kansas City, MO 64106

Kansas City: median income $52,564, home value $238,000, $173/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21201 90%959$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21202 87%960$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68131 86%166$48,925$227,200$161 more single-family homes · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55404 83%410$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55101 80%411$64,863$260,400$210 older residents · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55403 80%410$60,873$298,500$215 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Little Rock, AR 72202 79%327$50,899$262,500$149 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77063 79%650$59,113$290,300$170 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Worcester, MA 01608 78%1,209$45,687$153,600$252 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Detroit, MI 48207 78%644$47,831$211,600$123 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Tallahassee, FL 32301 76%837$50,942$226,700$188 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Madison, WI 53713 76%382$58,017$255,600$229 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Wilmington, DE 19801 74%1,014$52,810$199,900$143 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Norfolk, VA 23510 74%1,006$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($148K more)
Dallas, TX 75254 74%443$67,216$287,300$217 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 73%779$34,897$214,800$211 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75240 73%444$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger · less walkable
Des Moines, IA 50309 72%179$56,777$292,500$213 pricier homes ($55K more) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68504 71%163$56,213$184,500$158 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74119 71%219$56,234$251,700$125 smaller · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 71%430$39,982$257,700$188 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78229 71%701$46,574$228,900$135 larger · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12305 70%1,103$53,326$217,500$213 smaller · older homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 70%996$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43203 70%621$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($81K more) · more homeowners · more single-family 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.