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.

Reset

Towns most like Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Grand Rapids: median income $61,461, home value $199,300, $188/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14609 91%409$64,603$161,600$167 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Omaha, NE 68104 89%542$60,549$168,100$158 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73107 89%818$56,873$159,300$147 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76110 89%950$69,790$258,000$231 pricier homes ($59K more) · 5 min longer commute
Spokane, WA 99207 88%1,564$60,452$274,100$185 pricier homes ($75K more)
Cleveland, OH 44111 87%223$57,252$141,800$145 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46807 87%133$58,685$153,200$128 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55412 87%407$68,682$232,100$189 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Racine, WI 53403 86%110$59,820$176,000$188 newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55106 86%394$70,187$241,800$176 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46203 85%222$57,393$168,200$137 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74112 85%719$58,951$160,800$153 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78210 85%1,174$55,028$189,400$174 7 min longer commute
Richmond, VA 23222 84%570$61,345$274,800$218 pricier homes ($76K more) · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37411 84%547$56,579$232,300$162 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Dayton, OH 45420 84%236$60,588$131,300$153 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 84%130$52,154$154,200$147 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50316 84%416$56,090$154,300$159 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55411 84%406$60,225$245,400$145 pricier homes ($46K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63116 84%385$61,433$174,100$177 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Omaha, NE 68108 84%540$53,609$159,700$168 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Fort Worth, TX 76103 84%945$60,172$205,000$171 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Chattanooga, TN 37404 83%546$56,637$255,400$195 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53219 83%118$70,388$203,900$211 older residents · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68107 83%541$62,560$154,200$159 cheaper homes ($45K 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.