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 64128

Kansas City: median income $36,088, home value $84,600, $71/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40212 95%474$35,753$87,600$80 older homes
Mckeesport, PA 15132 92%784$35,397$73,900$78 larger
Louisville, KY 40211 92%474$31,749$100,400$83 larger
Memphis, TN 38114 91%372$34,206$82,000$90 larger
Terre Haute, IN 47804 90%383$40,674$94,200$88 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35218 89%573$30,739$92,600$58 smaller
Memphis, TN 38108 89%368$36,257$71,200$72 younger residents
Bessemer, AL 35020 88%576$35,362$91,200$57 larger
Dayton, OH 45417 88%551$36,945$75,100$84 larger
Louisville, KY 40210 87%475$35,347$98,700$99 5 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38106 86%370$30,232$71,800$47 larger
Dayton, OH 45406 86%552$41,796$85,000$88 larger
Detroit, MI 48235 86%637$39,265$90,000$85 larger
Flint, MI 48503 86%627$44,411$83,800$65 larger
Toledo, OH 43609 85%603$42,313$65,500$73 larger · younger residents
Highland Park, MI 48203 85%641$38,404$76,200$70 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35208 84%574$38,561$97,100$55 more homeowners
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 84%796$41,045$88,400$93 more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35204 83%575$35,420$89,300$42 more apartments and townhomes
Dayton, OH 45404 83%556$38,874$86,900$119 younger residents
Detroit, MI 48227 83%636$36,527$75,100$60 larger · younger residents
Burton, MI 48529 83%627$41,333$86,700$113 more homeowners
Peoria, IL 61603 83%287$41,618$77,500$58 younger residents
Wichita, KS 67214 83%177$35,192$76,200$84 younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 82%294$40,340$120,700$111 pricier homes ($36K 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.