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 53216

Milwaukee: median income $46,752, home value $143,400, $125/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
El Paso, TX 79930 92%1,274$42,099$135,000$134 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44109 90%340$42,872$122,200$124 older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46222 90%245$50,783$116,300$107 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Buffalo, NY 14215 89%463$44,955$111,600$115 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Euclid, OH 44132 89%346$47,969$125,300$128 smaller · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45205 89%327$43,682$127,900$106 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63111 89%334$47,039$128,400$101 smaller · older homes
Syracuse, NY 13208 88%596$44,712$123,600$146 7 min shorter commute
Wichita, KS 67218 87%616$49,059$122,300$118 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77017 87%1,010$51,079$158,300$146 newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45211 86%324$53,868$169,500$142 pricier homes ($26K more)
Kansas City, MO 64124 86%438$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76115 86%880$52,411$150,600$144 smaller · newer homes
Utica, NY 13501 85%642$52,548$157,500$106 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32206 85%946$39,242$173,400$134 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Euclid, OH 44123 85%345$55,676$114,200$121 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Blue Island, IL 60406 85%100$56,557$175,200$138 pricier homes ($32K more) · newer homes
Kansas City, KS 66101 85%442$42,551$106,300$123 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Wichita, KS 67203 85%618$52,028$143,800$124 8 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77087 85%1,010$52,847$177,900$139 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78201 85%1,107$47,121$197,800$172 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Buffalo, NY 14218 84%464$54,748$150,200$167 older residents
Columbus, OH 43223 84%335$46,911$131,100$144 less walkable · newer homes
Saint Ann, MO 63074 84%326$51,610$132,700$153 smaller
Kansas City, KS 66102 84%443$52,861$115,600$133 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more single-family 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.