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 64109

Kansas City: median income $41,943, home value $275,000, $124/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48216 93%642$44,335$242,600$106 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 84%516$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($90K less) · newer homes
Duluth, MN 55806 82%546$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($114K less) · 5 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70117 82%679$45,764$260,000$162 larger · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53208 81%440$52,690$204,500$125 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jackson, MS 39202 80%527$38,554$222,100$135 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79902 80%838$50,873$238,500$163 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43205 79%621$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($42K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53210 79%441$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Syracuse, NY 13203 78%997$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14213 78%858$53,870$211,200$116 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Columbus, GA 31901 78%704$51,424$226,500$132 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43203 78%621$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($44K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48202 78%643$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 78%443$47,298$216,300$145 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45223 77%537$49,312$210,100$176 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Detroit, MI 48208 77%642$36,194$176,400$195 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Spokane, WA 99201 77%1,287$41,171$312,600$207 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Springfield, MA 01108 76%1,170$50,661$250,900$181 larger
Rochester, NY 14608 76%924$40,646$187,000$97 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35212 76%579$36,633$232,100$188 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43222 76%618$32,321$228,300$140 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55103 76%414$48,390$257,500$205 newer homes
Scranton, PA 18509 75%1,009$51,062$183,700$129 cheaper homes ($91K less) · less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32206 75%947$39,242$173,400$134 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · 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.