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 53228

Milwaukee: median income $75,033, home value $272,000, $216/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rensselaer, NY 12144 91%726$90,738$249,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Shade, NJ 08052 90%706$79,087$250,600$233 younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32217 90%948$73,832$325,100$189 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 90%1,056$62,198$291,300$219 larger
Clearwater, FL 33759 90%1,078$67,492$338,900$247 pricier homes ($67K more)
Clearwater, FL 33765 90%1,076$69,199$333,300$241 pricier homes ($61K more)
Claymont, DE 19703 89%687$76,939$284,700$223 older homes
Lakeland, FL 33803 89%1,088$65,807$250,100$194 larger
Omaha, NE 68114 89%427$69,469$294,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68127 89%429$66,384$248,100$162 younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64116 88%430$64,123$240,900$194 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Metairie, LA 70001 88%905$67,923$339,400$197 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 87%573$66,423$280,700$196 larger · younger residents
Richmond, VA 23227 87%669$69,187$364,900$242 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Henrico, VA 23228 87%677$70,260$283,500$235 larger · younger residents
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 87%870$65,342$321,200$251 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Boynton Beach, FL 33426 87%1,222$74,223$335,900$239 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37909 87%530$66,984$312,500$223 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43231 87%331$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Manchester, CT 06042 86%795$91,892$237,400$224 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066 86%797$85,356$275,500$226 larger · 6 min longer commute
Derby, CT 06418 86%774$78,542$258,500$231 6 min longer commute
Carlisle, PA 17013 86%591$71,042$233,300$179 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Pensacola, FL 32504 86%864$72,672$275,800$179 more single-family homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49544 86%117$74,390$264,000$218 smaller · more homeowners

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.