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 48334

Farmington: median income $102,228, home value $347,700, $162/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38119 91%621$89,289$296,700$147 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55437 91%525$95,718$381,700$202 pricier homes ($34K more)
Reading, PA 19610 89%410$87,374$343,600$186 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45255 89%244$92,035$303,800$188 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55441 89%531$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($122K more)
Columbia, SC 29206 88%600$91,847$369,500$215 younger residents
Getzville, NY 14068 87%236$98,750$365,300$221 smaller · newer homes
Henrico, VA 23238 87%465$101,523$420,500$241 pricier homes ($73K more) · newer homes
Winston-Salem, NC 27104 87%472$81,529$359,300$181 larger
Trenton, NJ 08628 86%468$108,158$369,500$223 smaller
Hummelstown, PA 17036 86%377$115,533$349,700$176 more homeowners · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46256 86%227$93,847$318,200$163 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Lafayette, LA 70503 86%978$94,688$341,300$144 more single-family homes
Spring City, PA 19475 85%434$97,146$399,500$236 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40223 85%315$96,607$362,500$179 more walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63146 85%456$84,756$301,700$167 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more walkable
Bridgeville, PA 15017 84%224$86,937$246,500$193 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Richmond, VA 23235 84%461$96,083$356,000$221 larger · more single-family homes
Roanoke, VA 24018 84%403$90,885$348,800$161 larger
Westlake, OH 44145 84%103$112,200$368,200$207 larger · newer homes
Stow, OH 44224 84%135$94,287$254,500$183 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Dayton, OH 45459 84%202$89,592$302,100$160 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Greendale, WI 53129 84%238$95,012$311,800$231 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55126 84%519$108,217$384,900$217 pricier homes ($37K more) · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55438 84%526$106,432$414,600$199 pricier homes ($67K more) · more homeowners

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.