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 65806

Springfield: median income $28,165, home value $88,600, $138/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lubbock, TX 79401 88%543$26,980$105,600$114 smaller · newer homes
Huntsville, AL 35816 72%410$40,242$128,900$128 pricier homes ($40K more) · more walkable
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 68%426$29,152$144,500$227 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · more homeowners
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 65%483$34,458$99,800$102 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Bryan, TX 77801 65%487$39,846$162,300$162 pricier homes ($74K more) · newer homes
Akron, OH 44307 64%683$27,697$85,500$95 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Lubbock, TX 79415 64%543$36,468$96,400$139 more homeowners · more single-family homes · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37410 63%471$28,708$153,400$174 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · more walkable
Augusta, GA 30901 62%688$25,163$104,000$109 older residents · 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38126 62%231$30,071$59,300$122 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Tallahassee, FL 32304 61%695$32,348$150,900$148 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Milwaukee, WI 53233 61%493$23,750$137,500$146 pricier homes ($49K more) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Killeen, TX 76541 61%491$37,349$116,300$94 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Waco, TX 76704 61%446$30,349$134,900$138 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Schenectady, NY 12307 60%1,092$24,758$104,600$122 smaller · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 59%971$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45225 59%493$20,348$103,100$66 7 min longer commute · older homes
Akron, OH 44311 56%685$24,369$68,800$61 smaller · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45232 56%496$28,367$130,500$87 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 12 min longer commute
Kalamazoo, MI 49007 56%540$39,344$111,300$106 more single-family homes · older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53205 56%493$31,529$124,200$96 pricier homes ($36K more) · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Carbondale, IL 62901 56%227$35,089$146,600$99 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · more homeowners
Rochester, NY 14605 54%923$21,201$82,700$76 older residents · more homeowners · more walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45204 54%492$31,236$95,400$121 smaller · 10 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lansing, MI 48933 54%600$33,589$112,900$83 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.