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 San Antonio, TX 78225

San Antonio: median income $46,955, home value $119,600, $90/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maple Heights, OH 44137 90%1,262$53,918$98,100$126 larger
Terre Haute, IN 47804 90%942$40,674$94,200$88 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63135 88%799$52,328$107,400$92 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48223 87%1,237$44,512$99,500$88 larger · 5 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64130 87%704$42,221$86,300$93 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more renters
Dayton, OH 45416 86%1,082$46,174$81,100$92 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Glassport, PA 15045 85%1,295$47,803$82,700$83 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35228 85%740$50,815$93,700$61 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Cleveland, OH 44125 85%1,260$57,363$116,500$127 larger
Canton, OH 44710 85%1,244$47,305$104,600$110 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Hamilton, OH 45015 85%1,051$48,312$120,700$169 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64132 85%701$45,622$108,000$98 more renters
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 85%427$40,340$120,700$111 older residents
Akron, OH 44301 84%1,249$51,321$104,700$105 less walkable · older homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 84%1,103$53,359$140,800$135 larger
Flint, MI 48506 84%1,254$47,929$91,900$104 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Peoria, IL 61604 84%929$52,414$100,300$89 larger
Kansas City, MO 64123 84%710$54,443$129,300$111 younger residents · older homes
Topeka, KS 66616 84%688$51,893$82,900$97 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74127 84%490$46,373$134,200$126 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32208 83%1,010$41,324$157,800$124 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 83%1,248$45,923$103,600$82 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Bay City, MI 48708 83%1,270$50,518$107,700$104 larger · less walkable
Ambridge, PA 15003 82%1,290$59,550$134,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Vandergrift, PA 15690 82%1,321$55,457$111,800$90 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.