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 Burnsville, MN 55306

Burnsville: median income $100,515, home value $374,700, $187/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warrenville, IL 60555 91%326$101,859$287,600$238 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Milford, NH 03055 90%1,084$97,768$398,800$268 Very close on everything we compare
Nashua, NH 03063 90%1,092$107,630$391,400$291 Very close on everything we compare
Hatfield, PA 19440 90%964$99,408$438,500$258 pricier homes ($64K more)
Royersford, PA 19468 89%955$108,534$402,800$246 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Newark, DE 19702 89%965$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Nottingham, MD 21236 89%935$95,149$327,200$208 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Oak Creek, WI 53154 89%297$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Carol Stream, IL 60188 89%324$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Woodridge, IL 60517 89%335$99,024$361,700$229 larger
Hamden, CT 06518 88%1,051$106,692$325,300$212 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 88%997$109,292$338,100$234 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Lexington Park, MD 20653 88%977$103,048$353,300$186 larger
Jessup, MD 20794 88%929$116,406$426,100$248 pricier homes ($51K more)
Clarkston, MI 48346 88%512$101,477$325,400$209 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Grafton, WI 53024 88%282$92,390$366,300$244 older residents
Mountville, PA 17554 87%917$98,431$301,500$183 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 87%1,052$93,838$336,900$234 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 87%322$94,336$317,900$244 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 87%325$103,392$382,000$232 older residents
Sycamore, IL 60178 87%299$92,913$279,500$197 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64151 87%387$92,876$323,000$166 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Denver, CO 80234 87%684$92,563$530,300$237 pricier homes ($156K more) · larger
Lumberton, NJ 08048 86%997$113,440$432,100$232 pricier homes ($57K more)
Bordentown, NJ 08505 86%997$112,845$362,500$263 older homes

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.