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 66608

Topeka: median income $49,126, home value $87,500, $112/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burton, MI 48529 87%681$41,333$86,700$113 larger
Luzerne, PA 18709 84%1,053$42,135$113,600$96 pricier homes ($26K more)
Dravosburg, PA 15034 82%843$51,715$93,500$84 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Virginia, MN 55792 82%605$53,750$129,500$87 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
West Burlington, IA 52655 81%267$52,500$132,600$140 pricier homes ($45K more)
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 81%787$41,045$88,400$93 larger · more renters
Binghamton, NY 13904 80%1,058$53,984$121,100$106 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Farrell, PA 16121 80%815$42,595$87,800— more single-family homes · less walkable
Madison, WV 25130 80%753$53,294$95,900$76 less walkable
Charleston, WV 25387 80%759$43,063$91,400$122 more single-family homes
Byesville, OH 43723 79%755$51,474$110,800$116 less walkable · newer homes
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 79%798$45,923$103,600$82 larger · less walkable
Refugio, TX 78377 79%750$49,974$97,000$87 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Elmira, NY 14904 78%1,010$53,174$92,200$86 larger · less walkable · older homes
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 78%863$48,750$113,400$80 pricier homes ($26K more)
Canton, OH 44707 78%768$44,943$109,100$114 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Louisiana, MO 63353 78%248$46,875$95,700$72 less walkable
Sweetwater, TX 79556 78%528$49,393$94,900$111 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Mexico, ME 04257 77%1,343$55,727$110,800$96 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Salamanca, NY 14779 77%913$42,593$85,900$104 larger · less walkable · older homes
Glassport, PA 15045 77%843$47,803$82,700$83 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 77%571$52,253$133,100$156 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Centerville, IA 52544 77%188$50,572$116,900$119 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 77%431$53,622$100,600$82 larger · less walkable
Gila Bend, AZ 85337 77%1,042$55,365$116,500— pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes

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.