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 Milwaukee, WI 53202

Milwaukee: median income $71,034, home value $340,800, $278/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denver, CO 80203 92%913$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($130K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55403 89%299$60,873$298,500$215 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55408 86%298$70,326$396,100$214 pricier homes ($55K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46202 83%243$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($98K more) · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 81%442$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23510 79%748$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60615 79%88$63,876$347,800$200 larger · 7 min longer commute
Providence, RI 02903 77%843$64,476$408,900$475 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · older homes
Omaha, NE 68102 77%430$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older homes
Columbus, OH 43212 76%328$77,257$533,700$336 pricier homes ($193K more) · more single-family homes
Philadelphia, PA 19107 75%692$69,105$458,600$357 pricier homes ($118K more) · smaller · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 75%290$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55413 75%298$85,282$371,600$249 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Pittsburgh, PA 15232 74%448$66,582$553,700$292 pricier homes ($213K more) · smaller · older homes
Baltimore, MD 21202 74%641$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Houston, TX 77057 74%1,011$66,971$309,400$179 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 73%666$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($148K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Portland, OR 97201 72%1,716$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($333K more) · smaller · newer homes
Winooski, VT 05404 71%740$79,522$381,500$280 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Cleveland, OH 44113 71%335$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64108 71%443$80,551$291,300$282 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Baltimore, MD 21231 70%642$85,254$350,100$226 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Addison, TX 75001 70%849$73,514$468,800$259 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60616 69%85$73,819$387,200$318 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Dallas, TX 75254 69%849$67,216$287,300$217 cheaper homes ($54K less) · less walkable · newer homes

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.