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 Shawnee, KS 66216

Shawnee: median income $111,744, home value $353,300, $182/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sylvania, OH 43560 96%608$109,486$285,700$168 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Kansas City, MO 64152 95%12$114,688$375,400$184 Very close on everything we compare
Syracuse, NY 13215 94%999$113,864$304,900$201 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Broadview Heights, OH 44147 94%706$103,125$316,700$200 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Penfield, NY 14526 93%941$118,777$282,800$223 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Bellbrook, OH 45305 93%570$123,045$329,500$180 smaller
Manlius, NY 13104 92%1,012$127,933$337,100$212 smaller
Harrisburg, PA 17112 92%956$103,876$313,000$179 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Clarks Summit, PA 18411 92%1,015$98,824$292,500$197 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32309 92%839$113,412$376,000$206 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45244 92%556$109,287$382,100$201 pricier homes ($29K more)
Bettendorf, IA 52722 92%282$101,546$311,500$188 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Grand Island, NY 14072 91%865$115,991$327,000$211 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Orchard Park, NY 14127 91%871$109,386$364,900$237 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23236 91%934$110,499$346,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, AL 35803 91%545$100,846$294,200$172 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Rochester, MI 48309 91%652$121,007$424,600$196 pricier homes ($71K more)
Saint Joseph, MI 49085 91%480$104,969$304,600$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Waukesha, WI 53189 91%430$117,008$406,200$243 pricier homes ($53K more)
Stillwater, MN 55082 91%427$115,040$474,400$232 pricier homes ($121K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55110 91%426$101,296$360,500$217 Very close on everything we compare
Windsor, CT 06095 90%1,173$105,322$305,500$221 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Fairport, NY 14450 90%941$109,466$308,200$221 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Hummelstown, PA 17036 90%960$115,533$349,700$176 more apartments and townhomes
Canfield, OH 44406 90%751$98,693$286,400$174 cheaper homes ($67K 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.