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 Lakeville, MN 55044

Lakeville: median income $141,551, home value $488,600, $201/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 92%1,053$130,533$474,700$251 Very close on everything we compare
Westfield, IN 46074 92%483$126,724$437,100$195 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 92%426$137,648$409,100$183 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Collierville, TN 38017 91%691$138,677$495,200$180 Very close on everything we compare
Pickerington, OH 43147 91%629$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($140K less)
Avon, OH 44011 91%609$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
O Fallon, MO 63368 91%429$124,297$349,200$177 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Round Rock, TX 78681 91%1,008$137,819$497,300$223 more renters
Cumming, GA 30040 90%868$137,211$526,100$219 pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min longer commute
Saint Johns, FL 32259 90%1,193$150,736$533,400$237 pricier homes ($45K more) · 5 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40245 90%598$122,948$445,300$182 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Mason, OH 45040 90%588$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Allen, TX 75002 90%820$137,037$447,800$218 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Parker, CO 80134 90%693$146,778$677,700$225 pricier homes ($189K more)
Windsor, CO 80550 90%658$126,132$582,000$223 pricier homes ($93K more)
South Jordan, UT 84009 90%988$137,922$606,500$233 pricier homes ($118K more)
Collegeville, PA 19426 89%958$151,748$498,700$250 Very close on everything we compare
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 89%957$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Wake Forest, NC 27587 89%978$133,743$497,800$203 7 min longer commute
Simpsonville, SC 29681 89%899$114,986$360,400$175 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($128K less)
Evans, GA 30809 89%971$125,272$367,900$167 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Noblesville, IN 46062 89%486$120,100$382,500$175 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Castle Rock, CO 80104 89%698$134,335$624,200$222 pricier homes ($136K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Layton, UT 84040 89%975$128,365$542,500$210 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Midlothian, VA 23112 88%952$116,465$398,400$225 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($90K less)

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.