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 Lexington, KY 40502

Lexington: median income $76,948, home value $517,900, $253/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63132 90%322$87,385$417,000$270 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55116 89%655$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Knoxville, TN 37919 88%147$72,645$526,800$258 newer homes
Columbus, OH 43209 88%158$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Columbus, OH 43214 88%161$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($118K less)
San Antonio, TX 78209 88%994$86,514$497,000$266 larger
Portland, ME 04103 87%837$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Montpelier, VT 05602 86%754$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Columbia, SC 29206 85%339$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Columbus, OH 43220 85%160$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Rocky River, OH 44116 85%277$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Corvallis, OR 97330 85%2,043$70,742$526,800$320 larger · younger residents
South Portland, ME 04106 84%837$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Birmingham, AL 35222 84%336$84,066$399,800$251 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · younger residents
Milwaukee, WI 53226 84%395$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($182K less)
Madison, WI 53711 84%434$100,735$424,600$260 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55113 84%659$86,792$350,200$207 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger
Metairie, LA 70005 84%641$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 83%327$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Ashland, OR 97520 83%2,023$67,948$580,400$315 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents · newer homes
Charlottesville, VA 22901 82%322$92,145$501,700$272 newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55426 82%664$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Denver, CO 80224 82%1,103$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($86K more) · 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Orlando, FL 32806 81%681$89,046$441,300$288 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53705 81%436$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents

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.