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 Springfield, MO 65804

Springfield: median income $62,301, home value $243,500, $162/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 95%722$67,012$241,700$182 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, LA 71201 94%327$65,446$263,800$130 smaller
Columbus, GA 31904 93%568$66,291$226,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 93%264$64,745$238,000$167 Very close on everything we compare
Morgantown, WV 26501 92%737$63,529$219,800$157 smaller
Lansing, MI 48917 92%597$70,990$222,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Marquette, MI 49855 92%715$62,083$263,300$224 Very close on everything we compare
Beaumont, TX 77706 92%491$73,185$244,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71105 91%326$67,968$213,000$120 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Erie, PA 16509 90%778$68,846$220,500$169 more homeowners
High Point, NC 27262 90%739$65,006$236,500$155 younger residents
Paducah, KY 42001 90%253$71,365$215,300$143 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Findlay, OH 45840 90%580$68,083$213,000$165 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Lafayette, IN 47905 90%410$65,861$235,600$176 Very close on everything we compare
Eau Claire, WI 54701 90%534$74,361$289,900$184 pricier homes ($46K more)
Texarkana, TX 75503 90%260$72,159$229,800$148 smaller
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 89%938$67,510$222,900$160 younger residents
Radford, VA 24141 89%699$62,969$236,400$163 smaller · younger residents
Greenwood, SC 29649 89%654$54,585$235,100$168 smaller
Ocala, FL 34471 89%847$65,789$317,900$169 pricier homes ($74K more)
Chattanooga, TN 37415 89%466$70,972$285,000$216 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Muncie, IN 47304 89%471$63,215$172,200$133 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Eau Claire, WI 54703 89%538$71,518$243,700$178 Very close on everything we compare
Bismarck, ND 58501 89%770$68,755$279,700$161 pricier homes ($36K more)
Lafayette, LA 70506 89%486$57,379$218,000$135 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents

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.