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 65809

Springfield: median income $111,364, home value $402,200, $168/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tallahassee, FL 32317 92%698$128,690$369,800$221 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Solon, IA 52333 91%332$118,721$366,900$177 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68118 89%323$133,281$390,700$158 younger residents
Jamesville, NY 13078 88%988$119,191$313,000$221 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older homes
Lewisville, NC 27023 88%712$107,924$369,100$199 cheaper homes ($33K less) · younger residents
Watkinsville, GA 30677 88%597$110,250$435,600$220 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Huntsville, AL 35803 88%412$100,846$294,200$172 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Saline, MI 48176 88%607$114,206$408,300$229 larger
Dewitt, MI 48820 88%600$112,526$337,100$181 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Topeka, KS 66610 88%186$132,821$341,100$149 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Port Matilda, PA 16870 87%849$121,528$411,100$235 smaller · younger residents
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 87%890$117,130$385,600$185 smaller · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13215 86%980$113,864$304,900$201 cheaper homes ($97K less) · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32309 86%693$113,412$376,000$206 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Tallahassee, FL 32312 86%689$123,032$432,100$228 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Brownsboro, AL 35741 86%413$124,650$381,900$194 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Victor, NY 14564 85%924$115,625$353,900$218 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 85%419$119,250$481,600$204 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Solon, OH 44139 85%692$138,425$389,700$211 higher income ($27K more) · larger · older homes
Bellbrook, OH 45305 85%522$123,045$329,500$180 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents
Dexter, MI 48130 85%609$129,254$480,500$249 pricier homes ($78K more)
Richland, MI 49083 85%546$105,496$348,100$170 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Belmont, MI 49306 85%573$115,039$373,500$214 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Bloomington, IL 61705 85%317$120,547$328,200$140 cheaper homes ($74K less) · younger residents
Springfield, IL 62712 85%264$110,179$256,000$135 cheaper homes ($146K 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.