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 Bloomington, IN 47401

Bloomington: median income $66,906, home value $364,600, $191/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, NC 27707 92%469$74,406$407,800$249 pricier homes ($43K more)
Greenville, SC 29615 91%375$76,117$377,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Tallahassee, FL 32308 91%612$77,967$328,000$217 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78230 90%953$73,529$386,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Durham, NC 27705 89%466$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($90K more)
Birmingham, AL 35216 89%396$74,525$398,200$192 pricier homes ($34K more)
Louisville, KY 40222 89%77$82,511$363,000$193 smaller
Coralville, IA 52241 89%320$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Greenville, SC 29607 88%376$74,503$359,500$194 newer homes
Columbus, OH 43235 88%200$86,666$383,500$206 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68154 88%528$81,385$326,100$158 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Gainesville, FL 32606 86%693$87,953$347,800$189 smaller
Huntsville, AL 35802 86%309$76,324$334,100$170 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · less walkable
Knoxville, TN 37919 86%261$72,645$526,800$258 pricier homes ($162K more)
Columbus, OH 43220 86%194$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($109K more) · older homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 86%259$89,355$406,700$234 pricier homes ($42K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63146 86%215$84,756$301,700$167 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 86%657$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · less walkable
Lenexa, KS 66215 85%441$88,232$338,800$189 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78232 85%948$85,273$362,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
State College, PA 16803 84%470$73,532$413,700$195 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · younger residents
Asheville, NC 28803 84%332$76,662$452,900$306 pricier homes ($88K more)
Auburn, AL 36830 84%459$70,188$367,700$219 less walkable
Iowa City, IA 52245 84%316$78,020$315,100$184 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · younger residents
Metairie, LA 70002 84%664$65,436$381,800$161 smaller · older 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.