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 Eau Claire, WI 54701

Eau Claire: median income $74,361, home value $289,900, $184/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, MN 55904 95%70$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 94%840$67,012$241,700$182 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Knoxville, TN 37923 94%725$73,699$333,000$213 pricier homes ($43K more)
Bryan, TX 77802 94%1,011$70,666$254,500$170 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Chattanooga, TN 37415 93%743$70,972$285,000$216 smaller
Kearney, NE 68845 93%477$76,978$282,000$147 smaller
San Angelo, TX 76904 93%1,043$81,833$285,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Abilene, TX 79606 93%965$79,196$272,600$192 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, IN 47403 92%465$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 92%320$70,120$281,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Marquette, MI 49855 92%231$62,083$263,300$224 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Beaumont, TX 77706 92%1,025$73,185$244,800$124 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Winston-Salem, NC 27106 91%836$68,568$313,100$176 5 min longer commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 91%712$64,745$238,000$167 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Tyler, TX 75703 91%888$79,194$336,300$179 pricier homes ($46K more) · 5 min longer commute
Christiansburg, VA 24073 90%782$76,800$253,200$190 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35802 90%746$76,324$334,100$170 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37421 90%753$82,517$333,700$197 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Ypsilanti, MI 48197 90%431$73,737$294,500$186 larger · 6 min longer commute
Cedar Falls, IA 50613 90%163$78,503$270,800$159 younger residents
Moorhead, MN 56560 90%292$75,406$253,200$155 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more walkable
Springfield, MO 65804 90%534$62,301$243,500$162 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Knoxville, TN 37920 89%731$66,362$267,600$228 5 min longer commute
Bowling Green, KY 42104 89%602$75,164$306,400$174 newer homes
Columbus, OH 43230 89%548$91,424$306,500$206 Very close on everything we compare

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.