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 66619

Topeka: median income $51,528, home value $89,900, $104/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
California, PA 15419 84%846$43,813$126,000$110 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Kincheloe, MI 49788 81%762$57,524$112,200$70 less walkable
Sidney, NY 13838 70%1,088$53,306$122,000$75 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Clarion, PA 16214 70%877$57,521$171,600$107 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Commerce, TX 75428 70%394$51,424$162,500$127 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Lubbock, TX 79414 70%508$49,057$157,500$105 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Gamerco, NM 87317 70%753$53,589$98,700— smaller · more homeowners · newer homes
Pascagoula, MS 39581 69%720$37,927$153,100$91 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74116 69%192$55,156$156,200$173 pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents
Midway Park, NC 28544 68%1,057$52,354$141,700$172 pricier homes ($52K more) · newer homes
Window Rock, AZ 86515 68%767$47,336$57,100— cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · newer homes
Albany, GA 31707 67%824$50,862$133,900$98 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Mission, SD 57555 67%392$40,694$84,600— 5 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Burns Flat, OK 73624 67%314$45,491$106,700— smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Lubbock, TX 79415 67%504$36,468$96,400$139 larger · newer homes
Boron, CA 93516 67%1,238$61,000$126,600$151 pricier homes ($37K more) · more single-family homes
Shreveport, LA 71104 66%461$56,833$164,000$97 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · older residents
Americus, GA 31709 65%803$41,531$139,800$74 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Sunflower, MS 38778 65%471$40,179$86,900— smaller · older residents · less walkable
North Chicago, IL 60064 65%473$49,195$152,200$156 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more walkable
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 64%849$47,730$90,400$85 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more walkable
Tuskegee, AL 36083 64%721$46,024$95,000$74 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Rantoul, IL 61866 64%414$50,686$121,300$112 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 64%356$38,695$122,200$99 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
New Llano, LA 71461 64%559$51,042$124,500$108 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · older residents

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.