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 66616

Topeka: median income $51,893, home value $82,900, $97/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canton, OH 44710 88%762$47,305$104,600$110 Very close on everything we compare
Creve Coeur, IL 61610 87%338$47,993$85,500$102 newer homes
Charleston, WV 25387 84%756$43,063$91,400$122 older residents · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45416 84%609$46,174$81,100$92 6 min longer commute · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78225 84%688$46,955$119,600$90 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Akron, OH 44301 82%758$51,321$104,700$105 larger
Tonkawa, OK 74653 81%188$59,079$88,300$118 smaller · less walkable · newer homes
Glassport, PA 15045 80%841$47,803$82,700$83 10 min longer commute
Westville, IL 61883 80%432$56,169$101,400$93 less walkable
Maple Heights, OH 44137 79%759$53,918$98,100$126 larger · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Hoopeston, IL 60942 79%434$61,083$92,000$79 less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64123 79%60$54,443$129,300$111 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50703 78%295$50,060$95,900$84 larger · less walkable
Monmouth, IL 61462 78%294$64,113$102,900$92 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Saint Joseph, MO 64504 78%61$58,801$127,100$112 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · less walkable
Fairbury, NE 68352 78%111$55,370$132,200$107 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Blackwell, OK 74631 78%180$53,964$86,500$62 6 min longer commute · less walkable · newer homes
Estherville, IA 51334 77%303$57,482$112,000$111 pricier homes ($29K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Centerville, IA 52544 77%187$50,572$116,900$119 pricier homes ($34K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Davenport, IA 52802 77%314$54,380$93,500$79 larger · 9 min longer commute
Pana, IL 62557 77%351$51,389$88,900$91 older residents · less walkable · newer homes
Enid, OK 73701 77%220$50,843$100,900$93 larger · newer homes
Struthers, OH 44471 76%806$54,571$106,300$128 larger · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Terre Haute, IN 47804 76%442$40,674$94,200$88 larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Saginaw, MI 48602 76%676$46,984$73,600$75 larger · less walkable

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.