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 Lansing, KS 66043

Lansing: median income $103,060, home value $271,200, $153/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mosinee, WI 54455 94%467$96,140$251,300$179 larger
Rockton, IL 61072 94%376$104,938$237,600$153 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Winfield, WV 25213 93%701$100,711$268,600$164 smaller
Scott Depot, WV 25560 93%701$103,160$270,900$165 older residents
Ottawa, OH 45875 93%586$93,144$229,800$160 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Blair, NE 68008 93%172$89,583$270,800$157 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68157 93%145$98,015$239,000$153 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Osceola, IN 46561 92%492$91,711$230,600$170 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Ellettsville, IN 47429 92%443$92,378$246,800$179 Very close on everything we compare
Freeland, MI 48623 92%628$101,250$257,700$165 Very close on everything we compare
Dell Rapids, SD 57022 92%330$100,656$325,200$192 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Saint Joseph, IL 61873 92%369$117,578$265,400$156 smaller
Broken Arrow, OK 74011 92%231$99,157$269,000$162 larger
Whitehouse, TX 75791 92%486$92,107$267,000$173 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, VA 23836 91%960$100,921$356,400$192 pricier homes ($85K more)
Huntsville, AL 35811 91%555$90,812$281,100$166 larger
Holland, OH 43528 91%610$93,986$276,100$165 older residents
Monroe, OH 45050 91%563$104,282$293,100$181 newer homes
Tipp City, OH 45371 91%573$93,599$302,300$164 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Danville, IN 46122 91%447$99,531$304,900$165 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Mattawan, MI 49071 91%519$108,629$284,800$177 more homeowners
De Witt, IA 52742 91%291$97,946$261,000$165 smaller · older homes
Hartford, SD 57033 91%320$105,560$289,600$202 smaller
Roscoe, IL 61073 91%378$102,064$239,100$158 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Monticello, IL 61856 91%341$103,559$230,900$155 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older 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.