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.

Reset

Towns most like Wichita, KS 67226

Wichita: median income $92,341, home value $304,500, $136/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bloomington, IL 61704 93%483$95,027$248,100$117 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68154 93%251$81,385$326,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72211 92%339$83,134$284,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Peoria, IL 61615 91%457$79,817$215,700$115 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Lincoln, NE 68512 91%211$104,448$322,400$167 smaller
Champaign, IL 61822 90%509$99,006$287,000$168 Very close on everything we compare
Maumelle, AR 72113 90%335$79,248$291,700$158 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64151 89%174$92,876$323,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31210 88%831$78,447$285,800$130 larger · less walkable
Savoy, IL 61874 88%509$91,667$316,300$172 smaller
Lafayette, LA 70508 88%603$86,005$305,300$163 larger
Tulsa, OK 74132 88%134$79,543$286,500$178 smaller
San Antonio, TX 78232 88%568$85,273$362,000$188 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Gainesville, FL 32606 87%1,016$87,953$347,800$189 pricier homes ($43K more)
Memphis, TN 38119 87%450$89,289$296,700$147 older residents · older homes
Lexington, KY 40509 87%699$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
West Des Moines, IA 50265 87%324$85,915$281,800$213 larger
Omaha, NE 68164 87%253$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Columbus, OH 43230 86%788$91,424$306,500$206 larger
Rochester, MN 55901 86%502$94,607$317,000$177 larger · less walkable
La Vista, NE 68128 86%246$86,410$291,300$171 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68516 86%211$100,821$354,000$170 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 86%617$79,967$324,000$182 Very close on everything we compare
Norman, OK 73072 86%176$78,546$306,500$171 larger · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 86%149$81,818$364,300$178 pricier homes ($60K more) · 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.