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 Omaha, NE 68108

Omaha: median income $53,609, home value $159,700, $168/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Covington, KY 41014 92%621$61,382$164,700$147 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 90%562$52,154$154,200$147 newer homes
Lafayette, IN 47904 89%477$51,687$133,100$163 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44111 88%733$57,252$141,800$145 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46225 88%524$55,190$162,400$132 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 88%561$58,685$153,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64124 88%165$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Syracuse, NY 13206 87%1,021$63,136$148,700$163 older residents
Syracuse, NY 13208 86%1,019$44,712$123,600$146 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Racine, WI 53403 86%430$59,820$176,000$188 larger · newer homes
Amarillo, TX 79102 86%526$51,125$153,100$123 smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45216 85%620$44,099$155,300$120 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50314 85%122$39,950$147,900$140 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55411 85%292$60,225$245,400$145 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14206 84%884$50,450$125,100$122 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14218 84%884$54,748$150,200$167 older residents · newer homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 84%873$51,004$126,000$117 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Lynchburg, VA 24504 84%940$52,571$179,700$124 smaller · older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 84%540$61,461$199,300$188 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73107 84%407$56,873$159,300$147 larger · more single-family homes
Utica, NY 13502 83%1,065$57,835$158,000$154 larger · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45207 83%622$49,801$229,200$179 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45410 83%627$46,651$110,600$99 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Lansing, MI 48915 83%592$54,465$122,900$121 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Des Moines, IA 50316 83%124$56,090$154,300$159 more homeowners · 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.