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 53226

Milwaukee: median income $93,132, home value $335,600, $245/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43209 97%340$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($57K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55426 96%296$99,347$364,600$237 pricier homes ($29K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63132 95%326$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($81K more)
Columbus, OH 43214 94%332$94,183$400,400$290 pricier homes ($65K more)
Rocky River, OH 44116 93%335$93,799$349,300$246 more homeowners
Saint Paul, MN 55116 93%286$81,141$418,200$260 pricier homes ($83K more)
Portland, ME 04103 90%891$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35222 90%662$84,066$399,800$251 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller
Beachwood, OH 44122 90%351$101,230$328,800$202 larger · older residents
Hamden, CT 06517 89%782$104,550$339,400$255 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40206 89%353$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Des Moines, IA 50312 89%305$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55108 89%288$86,308$375,600$233 pricier homes ($40K more) · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55113 89%288$86,792$350,200$207 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55418 88%292$99,397$348,700$232 larger
Montpelier, VT 05602 87%776$81,320$360,000$259 smaller · older residents
Albany, NY 12203 87%718$83,147$279,500$213 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32803 87%1,068$107,592$455,600$334 pricier homes ($120K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45227 87%330$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55427 87%298$92,821$360,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Oakmont, PA 15139 86%457$92,782$334,500$237 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 86%454$99,071$311,300$256 smaller · more homeowners
Columbia, SC 29206 86%731$91,847$369,500$215 pricier homes ($34K more) · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45236 86%326$84,037$231,300$214 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Collingswood, NJ 08108 85%705$108,151$395,300$332 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min longer commute · older 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.