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 53217

Milwaukee: median income $133,021, home value $449,100, $277/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63122 95%342$136,385$474,300$272 pricier homes ($25K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 92%448$123,681$383,700$263 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43221 92%330$118,768$446,900$279 Very close on everything we compare
Overland Park, KS 66207 92%455$125,153$440,500$250 smaller
Delmar, NY 12054 89%712$129,583$354,500$271 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · less walkable
Rochester, NY 14618 89%521$125,098$332,900$237 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 7 min shorter commute
West Hartford, CT 06117 88%777$171,707$472,300$271 higher income ($39K more) · smaller
West Hartford, CT 06107 87%777$174,844$474,700$318 higher income ($42K more) · pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23226 87%667$126,655$530,900$390 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45242 87%327$124,567$447,100$249 newer homes
Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 87%258$137,310$466,100$217 smaller · older homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49506 87%116$118,131$375,000$270 cheaper homes ($74K less) · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55410 87%295$146,425$620,600$323 pricier homes ($172K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55417 87%291$126,261$382,900$258 cheaper homes ($66K less) · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63119 87%339$106,183$351,100$241 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($98K less)
Prairie Village, KS 66208 87%452$124,000$445,600$317 more single-family homes
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 86%88$137,658$514,300$290 pricier homes ($65K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70124 86%916$121,228$580,600$257 pricier homes ($132K more) · newer homes
Glenside, PA 19038 85%690$117,683$413,100$282 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Downers Grove, IL 60515 85%93$123,197$461,200$308 newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12309 84%709$125,274$330,700$221 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Havertown, PA 19083 84%686$124,523$452,100$315 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40207 84%357$101,898$421,200$202 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($28K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55419 84%294$148,350$495,000$282 pricier homes ($46K more) · older homes
Park Ridge, IL 60068 84%78$143,222$551,700$325 pricier homes ($103K more) · 7 min longer commute

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.