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 Troy, MI 48084

Troy: median income $107,098, home value $444,200, $224/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 87%439$116,847$429,300$278 larger
Birmingham, AL 35243 87%659$99,645$538,400$233 pricier homes ($94K more) · newer homes
Hopkins, MN 55305 87%537$104,914$451,800$234 Very close on everything we compare
Towson, MD 21204 85%406$99,606$594,800$261 pricier homes ($151K more) · more walkable
Exton, PA 19341 83%428$121,680$509,300$249 pricier homes ($65K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30328 83%600$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · newer homes
Overland Park, KS 66210 83%653$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more walkable
Atlanta, GA 30345 82%605$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Middleton, WI 53562 82%323$101,381$532,200$270 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55441 82%537$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78727 82%1,161$110,379$540,400$272 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · newer homes
Lebanon, NH 03766 81%556$100,881$395,600$270 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Lisle, IL 60532 81%257$102,085$386,300$253 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55416 80%533$105,958$461,500$272 larger · more walkable
Naperville, IL 60563 80%261$109,783$435,600$271 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Overland Park, KS 66213 80%654$117,706$465,900$180 larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75248 80%994$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($132K more) · larger · more walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76109 80%1,031$100,507$630,800$269 pricier homes ($187K more) · larger · younger residents
Austin, TX 78759 80%1,163$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($230K more) · larger
Baltimore, MD 21209 79%405$91,437$440,800$215 larger · more walkable
Charlottesville, VA 22901 79%393$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27612 79%522$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · newer homes
South Burlington, VT 05403 78%517$105,616$442,400$281 more homeowners · more walkable · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43235 78%170$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46240 78%239$75,156$348,000$207 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($96K less)

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.