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 66226

Shawnee: median income $173,667, home value $416,200, $188/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 93%517$147,280$399,300$167 lower income ($26K less)
Avondale, PA 19311 91%1,011$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($125K more)
Urbandale, IA 50323 91%186$175,944$486,800$244 pricier homes ($71K more)
Dunlap, IL 61525 91%296$161,165$320,100$148 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Gretna, NE 68028 88%166$143,604$407,400$177 lower income ($30K less)
San Antonio, TX 78255 88%686$157,428$531,400$212 pricier homes ($115K more) · older residents
Plain City, OH 43064 87%614$139,591$461,900$230 lower income ($34K less) · pricier homes ($46K more)
Zionsville, IN 46077 87%454$177,679$580,600$198 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · older residents
Lake Orion, MI 48360 87%650$140,865$387,500$181 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Rogers, MN 55374 87%428$144,714$462,000$193 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($46K more)
Omaha, NE 68135 87%168$143,676$350,200$171 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Apex, NC 27539 86%900$145,947$565,600$237 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($149K more) · larger
Carmel, IN 46033 86%465$153,143$487,100$185 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64157 86%21$149,526$386,400$198 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bennington, NE 68007 86%177$141,042$391,100$176 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($25K less)
Hamel, MN 55340 85%421$178,553$639,100$234 pricier homes ($223K more) · smaller
Galena, OH 43021 84%635$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($149K more) · older residents
Granville, OH 43023 84%653$142,852$473,100$220 lower income ($31K less) · pricier homes ($57K more)
Lewis Center, OH 43035 84%629$154,683$456,400$210 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · more renters
Powell, OH 43065 84%624$154,481$482,200$215 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · older residents
Avon, OH 44011 84%689$135,915$395,900$219 lower income ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 84%422$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($186K more) · older residents
Lees Summit, MO 64082 84%22$131,453$411,700$193 lower income ($42K less)
Westerville, OH 43082 83%634$147,972$458,200$214 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Springboro, OH 45066 83%562$131,250$393,500$181 lower income ($42K less) · larger

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.