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 67228

Wichita: median income $162,857, home value $418,000, $150/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edwards, IL 61528 84%449$183,140$329,300$153 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older residents
Dunlap, IL 61525 80%455$161,165$320,100$148 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Lincoln, NE 68523 80%206$141,786$508,600$193 pricier homes ($91K more) · older residents
Mickleton, NJ 08056 75%1,186$171,389$473,400$223 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 75%672$147,280$399,300$167 larger
Oak Ridge, NC 27310 73%954$165,898$498,900$217 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · older residents
Robins, IA 52328 73%416$125,347$382,900$166 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Cedar Rapids, IA 52411 73%413$170,491$423,200$156 larger · older residents
Goshen, KY 40026 72%632$134,254$432,100$200 lower income ($29K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46278 72%604$158,648$408,900$154 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Colgate, WI 53017 72%600$153,917$521,700$221 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Hanover, MN 55341 72%541$157,071$450,300$195 pricier homes ($32K more) · 11 min longer commute
Omaha, NE 68118 72%247$133,281$390,700$158 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73173 72%170$143,864$360,600$207 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Forsyth, IL 62535 71%465$112,000$281,000$133 lower income ($51K less) · cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents
Sherman, IL 62684 70%434$139,196$305,300$158 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · older residents
Galena, OH 43021 68%785$167,941$564,700$220 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger · older residents
Cave Springs, AR 72718 68%193$127,250$439,400$240 lower income ($36K less) · larger
Lake Orion, MI 48360 67%808$140,865$387,500$181 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Urbandale, IA 50323 67%322$175,944$486,800$244 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Carver, MN 55315 67%513$140,893$453,000$208 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Bennington, NE 68007 67%254$141,042$391,100$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Gretna, NE 68028 67%237$143,604$407,400$177 larger
Avondale, PA 19311 66%1,158$155,771$540,800$197 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Bondurant, IA 50035 66%336$134,906$323,000$234 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger

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.