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 68132

Omaha: median income $68,221, home value $333,900, $193/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45227 95%629$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Columbia, SC 29205 94%960$64,231$349,700$234 larger
Louisville, KY 40206 90%585$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Birmingham, AL 35222 89%736$84,066$399,800$251 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40204 89%584$71,116$329,000$220 older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45213 89%627$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Roanoke, VA 24015 87%899$69,831$267,500$154 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 87%406$69,827$249,200$186 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Columbus, OH 43206 86%688$75,806$317,300$193 larger · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55108 86%293$86,308$375,600$233 pricier homes ($42K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 85%842$63,086$321,100$226 older homes
Louisville, KY 40217 85%584$69,114$233,800$199 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46205 85%527$72,417$304,500$135 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63130 85%350$85,823$316,100$202 larger
Tulsa, OK 74105 85%357$69,547$337,100$210 larger · older residents
Albany, NY 12203 84%1,138$83,147$279,500$213 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Albany, NY 12208 84%1,141$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Covington, KY 41011 84%624$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43209 84%691$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53226 84%425$93,132$335,600$245 Very close on everything we compare
Mission, KS 66202 84%170$75,129$284,900$229 cheaper homes ($49K less) · newer homes
Little Rock, AR 72205 84%492$68,415$229,600$167 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Rochester, NY 14610 83%951$85,961$258,500$212 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63110 83%355$81,655$339,900$208 more renters · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63132 83%347$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($83K more)

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.