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 Lawrence, KS 66047

Lawrence: median income $65,392, home value $342,300, $173/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgeland, MS 39157 94%536$66,068$275,000$158 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Athens, GA 30606 91%743$63,328$362,500$201 larger
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 91%636$79,967$324,000$182 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72211 89%330$83,134$284,100$157 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Knoxville, TN 37909 88%651$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Greenville, SC 29607 87%768$74,503$359,500$194 larger · more walkable
Gainesville, FL 32608 87%976$61,588$358,200$206 larger
Iowa City, IA 52246 87%270$62,521$348,900$176 Very close on everything we compare
Davenport, IA 52807 87%308$72,579$348,200$180 5 min shorter commute
Huntsville, AL 35806 86%557$86,768$347,700$174 newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 86%576$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72703 86%205$60,568$391,000$240 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Wixom, MI 48393 85%663$65,962$335,000$195 5 min longer commute
Coralville, IA 52241 85%272$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more walkable
Moscow, ID 83843 85%1,219$59,444$380,600$257 pricier homes ($38K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Auburn, AL 36830 84%705$70,188$367,700$219 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Ames, IA 50010 84%231$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · older homes
Conway, AR 72034 84%308$65,635$274,200$163 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Buffalo, NY 14228 83%904$74,871$274,600$225 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Greenville, NC 27858 83%1,011$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · younger residents
Central, SC 29630 83%748$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Athens, GA 30605 83%747$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35216 83%608$74,525$398,200$192 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · older homes
Knoxville, TN 37923 83%648$73,699$333,000$213 more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46250 83%496$67,328$327,600$155 more walkable

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.