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 Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Virginia Beach: median income $102,796, home value $416,700, $262/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carol Stream, IL 60188 94%735$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Mesa, AZ 85213 94%2,022$103,969$438,900$270 smaller
Waukesha, WI 53188 93%776$92,409$348,600$237 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Salem, OR 97306 93%2,483$101,753$463,100$267 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33624 92%713$87,760$386,100$252 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Hatfield, PA 19440 91%242$99,408$438,500$258 smaller
Newark, DE 19711 91%199$95,403$398,900$217 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32225 91%547$90,559$355,300$223 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Oak Creek, WI 53154 91%755$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55112 91%1,058$93,838$358,500$200 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55122 91%1,051$96,823$356,600$200 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Chaska, MN 55318 91%1,069$112,243$420,400$211 smaller
Saint Charles, IL 60174 91%743$104,534$362,200$254 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Woodridge, IL 60517 91%727$99,024$361,700$229 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 91%1,568$87,685$442,200$208 pricier homes ($26K more)
Olympia, WA 98501 91%2,469$97,198$529,300$299 pricier homes ($113K more)
Anchorage, AK 99507 91%3,506$107,992$384,100$266 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Ballston Spa, NY 12020 90%442$107,112$329,400$271 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Lansdale, PA 19446 90%239$106,310$441,100$257 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32819 90%659$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43230 90%432$91,424$306,500$206 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 90%774$100,031$367,900$240 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 90%824$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55124 90%1,049$97,727$370,400$189 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Shakopee, MN 55379 90%1,064$106,312$379,700$201 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer 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.