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 53716

Madison: median income $91,716, home value $356,800, $254/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orlando, FL 32806 94%1,098$89,046$441,300$288 pricier homes ($85K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55431 93%233$101,484$373,500$207 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64114 93%395$81,275$280,900$218 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55422 92%241$93,914$325,900$199 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 92%681$81,226$321,600$199 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 91%374$104,875$335,600$265 Very close on everything we compare
South Hadley, MA 01075 90%851$93,910$357,900$264 less walkable
Burlington, VT 05408 90%806$95,018$400,600$335 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 90%771$114,012$372,200$275 5 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55427 90%243$92,821$360,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70005 90%904$89,194$430,200$249 pricier homes ($73K more)
Hamden, CT 06517 89%846$104,550$339,400$255 older homes
Albany, NY 12205 89%784$91,020$276,600$245 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Saint Petersburg, FL 33703 89%1,118$95,224$441,400$322 pricier homes ($85K more)
Trenton, NJ 08619 88%778$105,946$352,500$300 Very close on everything we compare
Montpelier, VT 05602 87%839$81,320$360,000$259 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Wilmington, DE 19810 87%748$112,775$440,600$239 pricier homes ($84K more)
Huntsville, AL 35801 87%595$105,585$422,300$205 pricier homes ($66K more)
Rocky River, OH 44116 87%397$93,799$349,300$246 more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63119 87%314$106,183$351,100$241 larger
Albuquerque, NM 87104 87%1,078$75,436$362,500$273 Very close on everything we compare
Newington, CT 06111 86%850$102,884$310,400$251 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 86%515$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 86%509$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($113K less) · younger residents
Camp Hill, PA 17011 86%668$92,556$277,800$178 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger

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.