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 Brookfield, WI 53045

Brookfield: median income $123,750, home value $457,700, $241/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chesterfield, MO 63017 95%330$127,095$466,100$200 larger
Farmington, CT 06032 93%785$140,912$445,400$268 Very close on everything we compare
Kennett Square, PA 19348 93%681$123,526$543,100$231 pricier homes ($85K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55126 93%284$108,217$384,900$217 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55447 93%297$133,555$471,000$229 younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 93%915$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($148K more)
Sewickley, PA 15143 92%446$132,674$454,900$257 Very close on everything we compare
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 92%647$125,528$477,700$252 larger
Plymouth, MI 48170 92%242$114,278$417,600$228 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Stillwater, MN 55082 92%271$115,040$474,400$232 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55442 92%296$123,859$460,100$190 smaller
East Amherst, NY 14051 91%477$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Raleigh, NC 27615 91%708$112,754$479,000$241 larger
Longwood, FL 32779 91%1,060$121,826$480,200$249 Very close on everything we compare
Northville, MI 48167 91%241$124,630$452,800$232 7 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55123 91%276$139,215$461,200$197 younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55127 91%282$117,917$433,200$223 Very close on everything we compare
Hummelstown, PA 17036 90%620$115,533$349,700$176 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Westlake, OH 44145 90%337$112,200$368,200$207 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Rochester, MI 48309 90%253$121,007$424,600$196 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Farmington, MI 48331 90%243$127,633$410,000$182 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min longer commute
Rochester, MN 55902 90%227$120,611$454,800$213 younger residents · newer homes
Manlius, NY 13104 89%615$127,933$337,100$212 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Orchard Park, NY 14127 89%476$109,386$364,900$237 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Fairport, NY 14450 89%540$109,466$308,200$221 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger

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.