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 53718

Madison: median income $102,843, home value $363,600, $227/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64154 94%385$86,213$355,700$205 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33616 93%1,117$93,210$405,500$278 pricier homes ($42K more)
West Des Moines, IA 50266 88%254$87,025$345,600$221 larger
Kansas City, MO 64158 87%380$105,043$371,800$182 smaller
Lincoln, NE 68512 87%414$104,448$322,400$167 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Johnston, IA 50131 86%247$106,551$369,400$228 more homeowners
Sioux Falls, SD 57108 86%375$98,197$413,600$195 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · less walkable
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 86%371$88,955$396,100$206 pricier homes ($33K more)
Charlotte, NC 28273 85%709$87,350$340,600$197 larger
Gainesville, FL 32606 85%1,001$87,953$347,800$189 older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32224 84%984$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66223 84%406$114,855$437,500$186 pricier homes ($74K more)
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 83%911$80,831$404,200$235 pricier homes ($41K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Orlando, FL 32819 83%1,101$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger · older homes
Lexington, KY 40509 83%434$94,804$366,300$191 larger · more single-family homes
West Fargo, ND 58078 83%456$91,040$324,100$173 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Fargo, ND 58104 83%449$85,747$359,400$177 larger
Savoy, IL 61874 83%216$91,667$316,300$172 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Carrollton, TX 75010 83%809$107,317$484,800$241 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Wilsonville, OR 97070 83%1,654$97,429$631,400$285 pricier homes ($268K more)
Newark, DE 19702 82%742$92,446$346,100$209 larger · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32311 82%920$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($42K less) · less walkable
Waukee, IA 50263 82%256$102,762$352,800$241 larger · less walkable
Missoula, MT 59808 82%1,234$80,239$460,900$337 pricier homes ($97K more)
Lawrence, KS 66049 82%423$90,147$393,400$190 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · less 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.