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 Farmington, MI 48331

Farmington: median income $127,633, home value $410,000, $182/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Amherst, NY 14051 94%242$135,663$421,300$238 Very close on everything we compare
Mequon, WI 53092 93%237$128,156$473,300$250 pricier homes ($63K more)
Manlius, NY 13104 92%379$127,933$337,100$212 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Aurora, OH 44202 92%134$118,750$375,300$207 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Chesterfield, MO 63017 92%459$127,095$466,100$200 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Sugar Land, TX 77478 92%1,119$118,495$404,600$182 Very close on everything we compare
Longwood, FL 32779 91%959$121,826$480,200$249 pricier homes ($70K more)
Germantown, TN 38138 91%617$136,297$430,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44333 91%131$131,821$382,200$191 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Victor, NY 14564 90%306$115,625$353,900$218 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Sewickley, PA 15143 90%215$132,674$454,900$257 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Brookfield, WI 53045 90%243$123,750$457,700$241 pricier homes ($48K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Ballwin, MO 63011 90%462$124,454$400,900$188 larger
Farmington, CT 06032 89%544$140,912$445,400$268 pricier homes ($35K more)
Avon Lake, OH 44012 89%100$115,567$368,300$213 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Solon, OH 44139 89%127$138,425$389,700$211 more single-family homes
Akron, OH 44321 89%133$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55115 89%507$124,234$488,400$218 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Eden Prairie, MN 55346 89%529$135,000$480,100$211 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55442 89%530$123,859$460,100$190 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more walkable
Avon, CT 06001 88%542$153,664$476,500$248 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($67K more)
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 88%297$129,655$375,700$216 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 88%411$125,528$477,700$252 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Reisterstown, MD 21136 88%403$118,500$422,100$206 Very close on everything we compare
Ballwin, MO 63021 88%462$120,177$349,500$192 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 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.