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 Jacksonville, FL 32217

Jacksonville: median income $73,832, home value $325,100, $189/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waukesha, WI 53186 95%954$74,588$301,100$224 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55421 95%1,202$70,772$277,300$195 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Madison, WI 53714 93%984$71,519$306,900$258 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55118 92%1,189$87,340$350,600$205 pricier homes ($26K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55428 92%1,207$74,860$299,500$188 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66212 92%955$81,477$304,800$212 larger
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 92%1,443$74,402$414,900$260 pricier homes ($90K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15220 91%709$75,611$228,700$190 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55432 91%1,204$79,520$301,800$187 larger
Lincoln, NE 68506 91%1,113$72,637$258,600$157 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Hamden, CT 06514 90%908$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Claymont, DE 19703 90%746$76,939$284,700$223 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Norfolk, VA 23518 90%556$77,594$300,700$238 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53228 90%948$75,033$272,000$216 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older residents
Omaha, NE 68114 90%1,109$69,469$294,200$177 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Metairie, LA 70006 90%513$76,505$344,800$167 less walkable
Spokane, WA 99218 90%2,242$80,733$445,300$187 pricier homes ($120K more)
Rensselaer, NY 12144 89%961$90,738$249,700$213 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Louisville, KY 40220 89%596$78,434$264,200$160 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Dayton, OH 45440 89%667$82,383$267,900$158 cheaper homes ($57K less) · less walkable
Saint Paul, MN 55109 89%1,194$86,776$315,600$196 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55117 89%1,195$70,771$280,500$178 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Burnsville, MN 55337 89%1,187$84,110$349,100$180 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55420 89%1,191$82,170$328,400$207 Very close on everything we compare
Shawnee, KS 66203 89%960$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more single-family 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.