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.

Reset

Towns most like Kansas City, KS 66104

Kansas City: median income $61,338, home value $141,500, $144/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln Park, MI 48146 96%639$58,616$131,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43611 95%614$62,042$132,000$145 Very close on everything we compare
Hammond, IN 46324 95%414$63,052$158,800$147 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44125 92%705$57,363$116,500$127 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Hammond, IN 46323 92%416$59,688$166,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Eastpointe, MI 48021 92%655$62,325$142,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60433 92%385$66,515$172,300$173 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Independence, MO 64052 92%13$59,007$150,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Beloit, WI 53511 91%376$67,067$173,500$164 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40216 90%482$56,441$167,100$150 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Toledo, OH 43613 90%608$64,384$136,200$132 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44135 90%696$53,848$132,800$154 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Heights, OH 44137 90%708$53,918$98,100$126 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Des Moines, IA 50317 90%181$65,617$177,600$203 pricier homes ($36K more)
Sioux City, IA 51103 90%250$58,197$142,900$138 smaller · more walkable
Frankfort, IN 46041 89%444$63,157$161,000$144 less walkable
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 89%520$53,359$140,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 89%636$60,195$140,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Bradley, IL 60915 89%386$60,563$156,700$176 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63114 89%234$55,870$116,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68107 89%158$62,560$154,200$159 younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78211 89%712$55,436$118,300$130 Very close on everything we compare
Amarillo, TX 79103 89%478$57,981$132,300$132 smaller
Alliance, OH 44601 88%727$61,965$154,600$140 older residents · less walkable
Lake Station, IN 46405 88%425$60,881$139,200$139 smaller

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.