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 53225

Milwaukee: median income $56,545, home value $188,400, $163/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46224 96%247$55,986$181,600$147 larger
Columbus, OH 43213 94%346$54,704$211,700$163 older residents
East Hartford, CT 06108 91%790$56,663$230,500$205 pricier homes ($42K more)
Trenton, NJ 08618 91%711$50,390$227,000$186 pricier homes ($39K more)
Columbus, OH 43229 91%335$57,561$228,200$180 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
North Chicago, IL 60064 91%55$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
New Britain, CT 06053 90%783$62,645$220,800$214 pricier homes ($32K more)
Willimantic, CT 06226 90%812$47,162$190,000$186 older homes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 90%756$49,583$230,300$175 pricier homes ($42K more)
Lakeland, FL 33801 90%1,096$53,061$166,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Waterbury, CT 06706 89%773$52,242$210,700$188 smaller · older homes
Richmond, VA 23224 89%678$50,475$207,500$217 larger
Newport News, VA 23605 89%743$53,815$194,900$216 smaller · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43232 89%346$51,417$172,300$159 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55130 89%282$54,130$236,000$170 pricier homes ($48K more)
Kansas City, KS 66112 89%446$62,313$199,700$159 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 89%735$44,925$156,700$145 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Dallas, TX 75203 89%860$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77092 89%1,005$58,728$242,900$200 pricier homes ($55K more)
San Antonio, TX 78238 89%1,111$57,769$209,700$146 newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 88%257$53,629$210,000$127 larger
Houston, TX 77074 88%1,015$47,810$213,000$141 larger · 5 min longer commute
New Haven, CT 06513 87%785$48,500$235,500$210 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 87%438$57,688$202,800$167 7 min shorter commute
Allentown, PA 18109 86%669$58,031$198,800$195 more homeowners · more walkable

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.