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.

Reset

Towns most like Kansas City, MO 64151

Kansas City: median income $92,876, home value $323,000, $166/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68164 96%163$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 94%511$85,833$258,700$150 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Lafayette, LA 70508 94%643$86,005$305,300$163 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78232 94%700$85,273$362,000$188 pricier homes ($39K more)
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 93%938$99,077$284,500$199 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lexington, KY 40515 93%556$86,268$340,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Perrysburg, OH 43551 93%603$95,846$311,100$198 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45255 93%552$92,035$303,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, MI 48083 93%644$90,794$315,800$199 older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32225 92%963$90,559$355,300$223 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43230 92%628$91,424$306,500$206 larger
Greenwood, IN 46142 92%454$89,001$287,000$157 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Holt, MI 48842 92%578$88,340$225,900$153 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Grandville, MI 49418 92%527$84,846$321,700$212 Very close on everything we compare
Onalaska, WI 54650 92%368$85,548$291,600$189 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Garland, TX 75044 92%447$92,178$344,300$190 larger
Arlington, TX 76012 92%468$88,141$334,600$172 older homes
Baldwinsville, NY 13027 91%988$91,797$246,800$217 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Memphis, TN 38119 91%388$89,289$296,700$147 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Louisville, KY 40299 91%497$89,440$290,200$176 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Maumee, OH 43537 91%600$82,752$253,300$172 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Stow, OH 44224 91%709$94,287$254,500$183 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46256 91%462$93,847$318,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53188 91%423$92,409$348,600$237 pricier homes ($26K more)
Sycamore, IL 60178 91%366$92,913$279,500$197 cheaper homes ($44K less)

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.