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 Indianapolis, IN 46202

Indianapolis: median income $63,506, home value $439,200, $222/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minneapolis, MN 55408 88%509$70,326$396,100$214 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Columbus, OH 43212 83%166$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($95K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53202 83%243$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Carrboro, NC 27510 82%469$61,837$449,700$282 less walkable · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 82%424$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($49K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55403 82%510$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($141K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Winooski, VT 05404 81%739$79,522$381,500$280 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43202 81%168$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55413 81%510$85,282$371,600$249 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents
Houston, TX 77004 81%868$71,199$412,800$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 80%1,352$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($110K more)
State College, PA 16801 79%443$61,836$414,600$228 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 79%494$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older homes
Durham, NC 27701 79%474$69,740$508,900$346 pricier homes ($70K more) · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35205 79%436$51,158$293,800$235 cheaper homes ($145K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Richmond, VA 23230 78%491$74,763$372,900$292 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Portland, OR 97201 78%1,881$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($234K more) · newer homes
Denver, CO 80203 77%998$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($32K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Portland, OR 97232 77%1,878$70,895$781,200$326 pricier homes ($342K more) · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 76%332$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller · older homes
Houston, TX 77057 76%872$66,971$309,400$179 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80231 76%993$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64111 75%453$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($153K less) · older homes
Worcester, MA 01609 74%766$68,381$444,000$267 less walkable · older homes
Chicago, IL 60615 74%158$63,876$347,800$200 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · older 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.