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 67206

Wichita: median income $82,252, home value $346,400, $143/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40222 91%633$82,511$363,000$193 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68154 90%253$81,385$326,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63146 89%374$84,756$301,700$167 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Little Rock, AR 72227 89%338$73,879$270,400$134 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40223 85%636$96,607$362,500$179 more homeowners
Savoy, IL 61874 85%509$91,667$316,300$172 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Tallahassee, FL 32308 83%895$77,967$328,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40243 83%637$77,587$323,200$196 older residents
Bloomington, IN 47401 83%588$66,906$364,600$191 larger
Huntsville, AL 35802 82%630$76,324$334,100$170 less walkable
West Des Moines, IA 50265 82%326$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Champaign, IL 61822 82%509$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38119 81%448$89,289$296,700$147 cheaper homes ($50K less) · less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55113 81%547$86,792$350,200$207 larger · older homes
Lincoln, NE 68506 81%215$72,637$258,600$157 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Iowa City, IA 52245 80%409$78,020$315,100$184 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Tulsa, OK 74137 80%136$102,798$404,300$158 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78232 80%565$85,273$362,000$188 larger · 7 min longer commute
Amarillo, TX 79121 80%314$74,659$288,300$156 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lynchburg, VA 24503 79%986$89,137$347,500$168 more homeowners · less walkable
Columbia, SC 29206 79%945$91,847$369,500$215 less walkable · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32606 79%1,014$87,953$347,800$189 6 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40242 79%634$75,417$299,600$174 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 79%712$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55427 79%542$92,821$360,200$193 older 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.