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 67203

Wichita: median income $52,028, home value $143,800, $124/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14615 92%1,101$51,262$137,500$148 smaller
Amarillo, TX 79106 92%306$59,493$174,400$134 pricier homes ($31K more)
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 90%694$52,154$154,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, IN 47904 90%593$51,687$133,100$163 smaller
Bloomington, IL 61701 90%488$57,130$144,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
El Paso, TX 79930 90%657$42,099$135,000$134 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, NY 13502 89%1,219$57,835$158,000$154 more homeowners
Buffalo, NY 14218 89%1,038$54,748$150,200$167 smaller
Roanoke, VA 24017 89%951$47,360$150,600$114 more single-family homes
Lansing, MI 48910 89%758$54,712$129,000$130 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53209 89%620$48,486$166,700$137 7 min longer commute
Euclid, OH 44123 88%883$55,676$114,200$121 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Euclid, OH 44132 88%884$47,969$125,300$128 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Lansing, MI 48912 88%760$54,429$150,200$123 smaller
Oshkosh, WI 54901 88%634$61,794$177,700$163 pricier homes ($34K more) · younger residents
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 88%405$57,688$202,800$167 pricier homes ($59K more)
El Paso, TX 79925 88%654$57,623$192,900$140 pricier homes ($49K more)
Roanoke, VA 24012 87%955$52,973$184,400$143 pricier homes ($41K more)
Columbus, OH 43224 87%790$53,321$170,800$177 pricier homes ($27K more) · 6 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45211 87%698$53,868$169,500$142 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46222 87%617$50,783$116,300$107 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute
Clarksville, IN 47129 87%632$56,185$170,600$139 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
La Crosse, WI 54603 87%531$52,012$181,900$173 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Saint Ann, MO 63074 87%385$51,610$132,700$153 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74129 87%137$49,677$153,700$143 smaller · newer homes

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.