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 Chanhassen, MN 55317

Chanhassen: median income $140,385, home value $539,000, $227/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waunakee, WI 53597 93%234$117,000$493,200$243 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 93%711$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($67K more)
Yorktown, VA 23693 92%1,036$124,433$488,400$225 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Westerville, OH 43082 92%632$147,972$458,200$214 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 91%863$119,250$481,600$204 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Mason, OH 45040 91%607$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
East Amherst, NY 14051 90%748$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Wexford, PA 15090 90%743$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Downingtown, PA 19335 90%966$143,249$494,100$234 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Stilwell, KS 66085 90%424$152,500$538,300$241 smaller
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 89%739$124,189$420,000$231 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Gambrills, MD 21054 89%953$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($72K more) · 6 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22911 89%910$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more renters
Glen Allen, VA 23059 89%963$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Midlothian, VA 23113 89%968$142,344$614,100$235 pricier homes ($75K more)
Raleigh, NC 27613 89%994$123,966$520,600$249 larger · more renters
Fort Mill, SC 29708 89%947$132,018$515,200$226 larger · newer homes
Charlotte, NC 28270 88%951$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37922 88%795$132,807$523,800$245 larger · more single-family homes
Louisville, KY 40245 88%617$122,948$445,300$182 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
New Albany, OH 43054 88%638$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Akron, OH 44321 88%654$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($175K less)
Rochester, MI 48309 88%538$121,007$424,600$196 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older homes
Brookfield, WI 53045 88%295$123,750$457,700$241 cheaper homes ($81K less) · older residents · older homes
Cottage Grove, WI 53527 88%248$133,883$444,700$238 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller

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.