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 Topeka, KS 66603

Topeka: median income $44,688, home value $107,900, $45/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Muncie, IN 47305 57%553$36,389$77,800$71 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Saginaw, MI 48607 57%680$37,973$73,800$21 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Youngstown, OH 44504 56%806$45,299$77,500$43 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Harrisburg, PA 17103 55%1,003$39,825$137,900$90 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Lansing, MI 48933 54%633$33,589$112,900$83 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Camden, NJ 08102 52%1,096$33,852$84,500$80 larger · 11 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 52%909$45,646$79,400$83 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Erie, PA 16502 51%843$38,566$93,000$84 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Erie, PA 16507 51%844$33,361$66,400$85 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45402 50%615$48,401$135,700$79 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Syracuse, NY 13204 49%1,050$45,351$113,000$106 larger · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Minersville, PA 17954 49%1,034$53,806$83,300$64 larger · older residents · 11 min longer commute
Peoria, IL 61606 49%341$39,196$142,700$67 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Troy, NY 12183 48%1,173$59,406$138,300$110 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 12 min longer commute
South Bend, IN 46601 48%528$30,789$145,000$96 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48211 48%700$35,725$78,900$45 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14608 47%979$40,646$187,000$97 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14613 47%979$37,778$120,600$84 larger · 13 min longer commute · older homes
Roanoke, VA 24016 47%862$46,512$119,700$129 larger · 7 min longer commute
Montgomery, AL 36104 47%699$33,823$172,700$104 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45214 47%597$27,852$100,500$93 larger · 10 min longer commute · older homes
Dayton, OH 45405 47%614$43,973$84,200$74 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 46%1,168$41,548$162,300$112 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 46%846$47,730$90,400$85 larger · older residents · 13 min longer commute
Harrisburg, PA 17104 46%1,003$46,510$104,800$104 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute

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.