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 Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Grand Rapids: median income $70,119, home value $243,500, $200/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, NE 68502 92%584$68,523$227,300$153 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45212 91%271$72,422$257,700$183 smaller · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64131 91%538$64,201$234,200$175 smaller
Manchester, CT 06040 90%678$83,422$259,400$224 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53207 90%110$79,117$243,600$241 older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53222 90%116$76,980$216,600$201 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32205 89%902$64,789$291,900$210 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45215 89%267$69,372$226,400$180 older residents
Omaha, NE 68106 89%540$69,806$217,800$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23222 88%574$61,345$274,800$218 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55117 88%392$70,771$280,500$178 pricier homes ($37K more) · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73118 88%814$69,827$249,200$186 smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15205 87%339$70,991$179,900$175 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · older residents
Roanoke, VA 24015 87%498$69,831$267,500$154 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45227 87%273$71,646$298,800$224 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53219 87%115$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55106 87%389$70,187$241,800$176 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63116 87%385$61,433$174,100$177 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older homes
Spokane, WA 99202 87%1,560$65,189$304,600$206 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Bethlehem, PA 18015 86%557$60,800$281,700$184 pricier homes ($38K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Toledo, OH 43606 86%141$66,917$169,000$130 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Des Moines, IA 50311 86%417$61,957$226,500$202 smaller · older homes
La Crosse, WI 54601 86%281$61,639$235,100$178 newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55421 86%400$70,772$277,300$195 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · newer homes
West Haven, CT 06516 85%664$74,382$291,700$246 pricier homes ($48K more)

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.