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 Wichita, KS 67202

Wichita: median income $58,234, home value $407,100, $275/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14202 85%1,034$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23219 82%1,087$57,507$380,700$361 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older homes
Omaha, NE 68102 78%258$64,111$389,400$329 larger · 5 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48226 75%820$64,860$324,500$492 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73102 75%154$59,338$436,500$181 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14604 72%1,101$52,105$784,700— pricier homes ($378K more) · larger · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 70%548$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hartford, CT 06103 68%1,335$71,677$275,000$256 cheaper homes ($132K less) · 10 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23510 65%1,156$73,524$385,700$246 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Schenectady, NY 12305 64%1,279$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35203 64%657$47,434$334,000$274 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more homeowners
Knoxville, TN 37902 64%751$50,161$687,500$579 pricier homes ($280K more) · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97205 64%1,410$57,288$637,100$387 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63102 63%394$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($215K less) · 8 min longer commute
Manchester, NH 03101 62%1,405$84,434$429,300$238 higher income ($26K more) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64106 61%179$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($169K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lafayette, IN 47901 60%591$47,206$256,500$144 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 59%178$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23517 58%1,156$67,375$386,600$214 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Sacramento, CA 95814 58%1,310$58,284$633,200$355 pricier homes ($226K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Tacoma, WA 98402 58%1,431$60,505$531,300$438 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02903 57%1,400$64,476$408,900$475 larger · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21201 56%1,123$45,640$275,300$178 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99204 56%1,225$58,277$397,700$199 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14607 55%1,102$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.