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 Appleton, WI 54913

Appleton: median income $105,385, home value $393,400, $212/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bismarck, ND 58503 95%621$102,333$393,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Amarillo, TX 79119 95%962$114,432$366,000$191 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Knoxville, TN 37931 93%620$92,150$359,600$208 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Knoxville, TN 37932 93%624$119,703$463,100$223 pricier homes ($70K more)
Ankeny, IA 50021 93%316$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Chaska, MN 55318 93%257$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($27K more)
Glen Allen, VA 23060 92%731$104,468$409,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, NC 27282 91%730$91,512$312,900$169 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Greer, SC 29650 91%730$94,522$342,500$192 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Madison, AL 35757 91%667$106,175$337,000$174 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72704 91%649$96,014$331,100$212 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Woodway, TX 76712 91%1,007$97,903$340,600$179 cheaper homes ($53K less) · older homes
Midlothian, VA 23114 90%735$112,738$409,100$220 6 min longer commute
Suffolk, VA 23435 90%812$111,700$394,500$215 7 min longer commute
Bowling Green, KY 42103 90%521$87,689$331,400$182 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Grimes, IA 50111 90%326$120,769$308,800$228 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Kansas City, MO 64155 90%471$97,471$300,900$189 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Bentonville, AR 72712 90%630$110,514$471,700$254 pricier homes ($78K more) · larger
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 89%649$113,720$372,900$192 larger
Yorktown, VA 23693 89%800$124,433$488,400$225 pricier homes ($95K more)
Melbourne, FL 32904 89%1,204$90,673$366,300$208 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Perrysburg, OH 43551 89%312$95,846$311,100$198 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older homes
Waukee, IA 50263 89%334$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 89%977$92,098$365,000$186 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Rogers, AR 72758 89%631$99,147$407,600$226 larger · younger residents

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.