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 Northfield, MN 55057

Northfield: median income $92,622, home value $363,600, $193/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
River Falls, WI 54022 93%38$96,642$373,100$203 5 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 91%390$94,037$321,100$228 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Newark, DE 19711 90%950$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Midland, TX 79705 90%984$105,310$351,700$188 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46256 89%483$93,847$318,200$163 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Portage, MI 49024 89%410$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents
Grandville, MI 49418 89%385$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Perrysburg, OH 43551 88%524$95,846$311,100$198 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 88%405$80,930$346,600$181 larger
Ankeny, IA 50021 88%190$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64155 88%365$97,471$300,900$189 cheaper homes ($63K less) · newer homes
Fairbanks, AK 99709 88%2,485$86,294$304,800$213 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents
Morgantown, WV 26508 87%757$90,041$311,500$174 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · newer homes
Jamestown, NC 27282 87%909$91,512$312,900$169 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older residents
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017 87%580$97,274$293,500$201 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68164 87%264$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Woodway, TX 76712 87%922$97,903$340,600$179 older residents
Idaho Falls, ID 83404 87%938$82,103$394,300$164 pricier homes ($31K more)
Greer, SC 29650 86%877$94,522$342,500$192 larger · older residents · newer homes
Knoxville, TN 37931 86%754$92,150$359,600$208 older residents · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 86%395$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents
Bettendorf, IA 52722 86%242$101,546$311,500$188 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
De Pere, WI 54115 86%251$94,721$339,500$213 larger · newer homes
Sycamore, IL 60178 86%282$92,913$279,500$197 cheaper homes ($84K less) · 8 min longer commute
Lafayette, LA 70503 86%988$94,688$341,300$144 older 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.