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 Lafayette, LA 70503

Lafayette: median income $94,688, home value $341,300, $144/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portage, MI 49024 94%903$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Lynchburg, VA 24503 93%890$89,137$347,500$168 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46256 92%753$93,847$318,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, MN 55906 92%962$93,685$377,800$173 pricier homes ($37K more)
Roanoke, VA 24018 91%844$90,885$348,800$161 older residents
Bettendorf, IA 52722 91%790$101,546$311,500$188 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Tulsa, OK 74137 90%462$102,798$404,300$158 pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Woodway, TX 76712 90%321$97,903$340,600$179 newer homes
Memphis, TN 38119 89%362$89,289$296,700$147 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Troy, MI 48083 89%988$90,794$315,800$199 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 5 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64151 89%641$92,876$323,000$166 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40515 88%690$86,268$340,500$191 newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 88%951$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($77K more)
Omaha, NE 68144 88%797$83,576$269,600$171 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Hummelstown, PA 17036 87%1,109$115,533$349,700$176 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19711 87%1,131$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Jamestown, NC 27282 87%808$91,512$312,900$169 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29206 87%701$91,847$369,500$215 pricier homes ($28K more)
Louisville, KY 40223 87%670$96,607$362,500$179 more walkable
Perrysburg, OH 43551 87%916$95,846$311,100$198 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · newer homes
Stow, OH 44224 87%963$94,287$254,500$183 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45230 87%753$89,516$262,100$184 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 87%842$85,833$258,700$150 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Saint Charles, MO 63303 87%599$99,138$321,100$163 larger
Huntsville, AL 35801 86%448$105,585$422,300$205 pricier homes ($81K more) · 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.