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 66609

Topeka: median income $67,675, home value $109,000, $119/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wise, VA 24293 86%725$63,413$130,800$83 Very close on everything we compare
Vicksburg, MS 39183 86%531$73,946$157,300$118 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · less walkable
Charleston, WV 25306 85%764$71,654$109,800— Very close on everything we compare
Richland, MS 39218 85%560$65,327$128,900$158 Very close on everything we compare
Grants, NM 87020 84%722$62,746$154,400$134 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Sandersville, GA 31082 83%828$57,308$121,000$136 more single-family homes
Sparta, IL 62286 83%328$61,220$117,800$94 older homes
Jourdanton, TX 78026 83%716$78,501$172,800$137 pricier homes ($64K more)
Scranton, SC 29591 82%948$65,000$93,300$110 smaller · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Monroe City, MO 63456 82%216$64,160$161,200$116 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Hooks, TX 75561 82%386$60,047$119,500$121 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Cairo, GA 39827 81%853$61,172$158,000$127 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Loves Park, IL 61111 81%417$61,393$158,600$149 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Collinsville, VA 24078 80%872$53,665$143,400$119 pricier homes ($34K more) · older homes
Pinetops, NC 27864 80%1,012$64,201$124,400$132 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Lyons, GA 30436 80%885$55,827$107,700$123 larger · less walkable
Cochran, GA 31014 80%828$54,362$121,200$115 larger
Sylvester, GA 31791 80%841$61,530$101,200$114 less walkable
Saginaw, MI 48638 80%678$69,459$172,600$113 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · older homes
Greenville, IL 62246 80%337$66,970$159,500$119 pricier homes ($51K more) · more single-family homes
New Roads, LA 70760 80%621$61,141$153,900$133 pricier homes ($45K more) · more single-family homes
South Charleston, WV 25309 79%754$57,937$158,000$130 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Charleston, WV 25313 79%750$64,385$156,100$121 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Clinton, SC 29325 79%824$60,259$177,400$126 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Varnville, SC 29944 79%921$59,620$112,100$159 smaller · 9 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.