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 Excelsior, MN 55331

Excelsior: median income $159,450, home value $737,000, $273/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falmouth, ME 04105 94%1,152$150,919$767,500$370 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Bedford, NH 03110 92%1,103$167,418$612,100$302 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Hockessin, DE 19707 91%977$172,696$556,600$211 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 91%538$178,103$661,900$229 cheaper homes ($75K less) · older homes
Littleton, CO 80121 91%686$142,056$707,900$311 cheaper homes ($29K less)
West Linn, OR 97068 91%1,410$151,729$796,400$329 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Moorestown, NJ 08057 90%1,006$158,770$680,200$308 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Ellicott City, MD 21042 90%939$190,061$706,400$274 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Midlothian, VA 23113 90%971$142,344$614,100$235 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Marietta, GA 30068 90%898$150,101$599,400$228 cheaper homes ($138K less) · larger
Franklin, TN 37069 90%709$157,939$815,600$349 pricier homes ($79K more)
Golden, CO 80403 90%692$151,276$838,000$344 pricier homes ($101K more)
Chadds Ford, PA 19317 89%979$174,408$624,900$245 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Barrington, IL 60010 89%332$177,566$638,100$255 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Libertyville, IL 60048 89%335$173,975$551,200$288 cheaper homes ($186K less) · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87122 89%956$169,041$650,200$264 cheaper homes ($87K less) · newer homes
Pennington, NJ 08534 88%1,003$175,573$573,000$324 cheaper homes ($164K less) · younger residents
Troy, MI 48098 88%542$164,759$509,400$205 cheaper homes ($228K less)
Flower Mound, TX 75022 88%842$177,357$657,400$258 cheaper homes ($80K less) · newer homes
Northborough, MA 01532 87%1,108$153,199$620,000$331 cheaper homes ($117K less) · 6 min longer commute
East Greenwich, RI 02818 87%1,131$139,217$613,500$342 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Avon, CT 06001 87%1,060$153,664$476,500$248 cheaper homes ($261K less)
Roswell, GA 30075 87%895$157,335$611,500$244 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · younger residents
Arvada, CO 80005 87%684$136,821$649,800$255 cheaper homes ($87K less) · younger residents
Littleton, CO 80127 87%695$137,040$693,200$267 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger

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.