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 Madison, WI 53713

Madison: median income $58,017, home value $255,600, $229/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tallahassee, FL 32301 94%916$50,942$226,700$188 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Henrico, VA 23294 88%726$64,164$294,500$223 pricier homes ($39K more)
Lincoln, NE 68504 88%403$56,213$184,500$158 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Fargo, ND 58103 86%448$58,801$242,400$159 larger · older residents
Grand Forks, ND 58203 86%502$60,474$207,100$261 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40517 84%434$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28217 83%708$64,028$263,300$233 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75240 83%805$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($140K more) · 6 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75254 83%805$67,216$287,300$217 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute
Orlando, FL 32811 82%1,096$54,082$218,900$177 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75235 82%813$63,393$294,500$249 pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Tulsa, OK 74136 81%595$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 81%1,165$65,548$434,700$306 pricier homes ($179K more)
Mesa, AZ 85201 81%1,381$67,294$328,800$252 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wilmington, NC 28403 80%868$54,547$386,700$277 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37210 80%497$50,284$355,600$315 pricier homes ($100K more) · 7 min longer commute
Lexington, KY 40504 80%429$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78216 80%1,060$59,110$310,700$173 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
San Antonio, TX 78240 80%1,064$63,351$257,500$166 larger · 7 min longer commute
Anchorage, AK 99501 80%2,730$70,891$379,100$265 pricier homes ($124K more) · smaller · older residents
Anchorage, AK 99503 80%2,730$76,144$339,000$216 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · older residents
Fargo, ND 58102 79%451$59,533$242,200$144 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Grand Forks, ND 58201 79%500$68,143$288,500$263 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · more homeowners
Denton, TX 76205 79%799$68,600$335,600$196 pricier homes ($80K more) · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68131 78%358$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 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.