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 Chesapeake, VA 23325

Chesapeake: median income $69,909, home value $272,000, $235/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wyoming, MI 49519 94%655$73,762$238,700$189 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Absecon, NJ 08201 93%204$71,321$287,000$226 smaller
Newark, DE 19713 93%199$76,493$292,600$215 larger
Savannah, GA 31406 93%433$67,120$283,300$217 larger
Panama City, FL 32405 93%710$73,373$279,900$196 larger · newer homes
Shawnee, KS 66203 93%1,017$75,869$254,900$222 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55432 92%1,052$79,520$301,800$187 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64118 92%1,010$74,740$225,300$177 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Saint Albans, VT 05478 91%576$71,203$316,400$224 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Dallastown, PA 17313 91%215$70,176$237,900$163 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Melbourne, FL 32935 91%652$64,588$263,200$194 larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33634 91%711$74,291$346,400$272 pricier homes ($74K more)
Columbus, OH 43231 91%427$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55428 91%1,057$74,860$299,500$188 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Omaha, NE 68134 91%1,104$66,989$222,000$165 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Savannah, GA 31405 90%431$65,710$338,200$217 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37921 90%435$60,013$226,300$220 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 90%650$70,120$281,600$187 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55119 90%1,037$81,865$277,500$184 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55421 90%1,052$70,772$277,300$195 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55429 90%1,056$72,253$280,900$179 older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80915 90%1,554$72,352$350,600$199 pricier homes ($79K more)
Crescent City, CA 95531 90%2,550$67,458$351,400$247 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents
Fortuna, CA 95540 90%2,565$63,695$389,500$266 pricier homes ($118K more)
Spokane, WA 99212 90%2,200$67,049$361,500$211 pricier homes ($90K 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.