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 66610

Topeka: median income $132,821, home value $341,100, $149/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 90%299$170,491$423,200$156 higher income ($38K more) · pricier homes ($82K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46278 89%509$158,648$408,900$154 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($68K more) · 5 min longer commute
Springfield, MO 65809 88%186$111,364$402,200$168 pricier homes ($61K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73131 88%253$137,849$343,300$157 smaller
Tallahassee, FL 32317 87%883$128,690$369,800$221 pricier homes ($29K more)
Monclova, OH 43542 85%655$148,657$402,000$217 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Robins, IA 52328 85%303$125,347$382,900$166 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Sherman, IL 62684 85%335$139,196$305,300$158 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · younger residents
Omaha, NE 68118 85%159$133,281$390,700$158 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Forsyth, IL 62535 84%367$112,000$281,000$133 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
Houston, TX 77059 84%649$161,944$416,700$162 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 83%884$165,898$498,900$217 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($158K more)
Summerfield, NC 27358 83%887$138,717$444,400$205 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hartsburg, MO 65039 83%187$125,714$412,400$176 pricier homes ($71K more) · smaller
Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 82%533$119,410$359,500$167 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Solon, IA 52333 82%296$118,721$366,900$177 pricier homes ($26K more)
Lake View, NY 14085 81%914$129,563$292,900$213 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 81%595$123,497$396,300$176 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · younger residents
Strongsville, OH 44149 81%750$118,173$308,300$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Swisher, IA 52338 81%291$119,605$392,700$170 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · less walkable
Port Matilda, PA 16870 80%943$121,528$411,100$235 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents
Midland, GA 31820 80%754$114,468$364,400$159 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 80%779$147,383$439,300$234 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
West Bloomfield, MI 48323 80%692$144,457$479,900$185 pricier homes ($139K more) · larger · older homes
Belmont, MI 49306 80%601$115,039$373,500$214 pricier homes ($32K more)

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.