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 Lenexa, KS 66227

Lenexa: median income $139,883, home value $478,200, $231/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 90%428$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($124K more)
Crozet, VA 22932 89%867$115,545$548,500$269 pricier homes ($70K more)
Urbandale, IA 50323 88%192$175,944$486,800$244 higher income ($36K more) · larger
Chanhassen, MN 55317 88%413$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · older homes
Arlington, TX 76005 88%450$168,806$523,400$228 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($45K more)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 87%561$119,250$481,600$204 larger · older homes
Westerville, OH 43082 87%636$147,972$458,200$214 larger
Avon, OH 44011 86%692$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Mars, PA 16046 85%788$151,560$481,300$212 larger · 8 min longer commute
Avondale, PA 19311 85%1,013$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($63K more)
Apex, NC 27539 85%900$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Lake Orion, MI 48360 85%653$140,865$387,500$181 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older homes
Omaha, NE 68118 85%176$133,281$390,700$158 cheaper homes ($88K less) · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78255 85%680$157,428$531,400$212 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Gambrills, MD 21054 84%968$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($133K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Davidson, NC 28036 84%803$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($153K more) · larger
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 84%482$136,188$570,200$296 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37922 84%620$132,807$523,800$245 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Plain City, OH 43064 84%616$139,591$461,900$230 larger
Dexter, MI 48130 84%614$129,254$480,500$249 larger · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55115 84%433$124,234$488,400$218 older homes
Papillion, NE 68133 84%166$134,426$388,300$170 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Prospect, KY 40059 83%494$152,727$559,300$210 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older residents
Lewis Center, OH 43035 83%631$154,683$456,400$210 larger · more renters
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 83%405$133,883$444,700$238 cheaper homes ($34K 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.