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.

Reset

Towns most like Glen Allen, VA 23060

Glen Allen: median income $104,468, home value $409,900, $224/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 97%178$113,720$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Greer, SC 29650 95%326$94,522$342,500$192 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Franklin, WI 53132 95%659$109,850$367,500$223 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Oregon, WI 53575 95%722$107,885$432,800$230 smaller
Hudson, WI 54016 95%934$113,085$452,000$224 pricier homes ($42K more)
West Chester, OH 45069 94%389$114,631$345,000$192 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Waunakee, WI 53597 94%733$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller
Stillwater, MN 55082 94%942$115,040$474,400$232 pricier homes ($65K more)
Osseo, MN 55369 94%971$112,144$376,400$205 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Hillsborough, NC 27278 93%139$105,887$414,100$235 6 min longer commute
Greensboro, NC 27455 93%162$94,349$341,500$191 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Germantown, WI 53022 93%675$100,890$373,400$219 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Hartland, WI 53029 93%682$108,152$478,700$250 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 93%673$100,031$367,900$240 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Olathe, KS 66061 93%940$110,176$360,500$210 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Matthews, NC 28105 92%249$108,190$430,800$234 Very close on everything we compare
Delaware, OH 43015 92%348$105,322$342,700$202 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Twinsburg, OH 44087 92%328$99,270$320,400$199 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Maineville, OH 45039 92%380$108,794$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Dayton, OH 45458 92%382$110,150$362,700$175 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Pewaukee, WI 53072 92%677$98,538$437,800$252 pricier homes ($28K more)
Sussex, WI 53089 92%677$120,875$418,900$248 smaller
New Berlin, WI 53151 92%666$101,176$371,200$231 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Appleton, WI 54913 92%731$105,385$393,400$212 Very close on everything we compare
Chaska, MN 55318 92%968$112,243$420,400$211 Very close on everything we compare

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.