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 55337

Burnsville: median income $84,110, home value $349,100, $180/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chesapeake, VA 23320 93%1,047$84,305$346,400$219 newer homes
Newark, DE 19702 92%964$92,446$346,100$209 newer homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 92%1,045$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($69K more)
Palatine, IL 60074 92%319$84,089$315,500$233 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Carrollton, TX 75006 92%838$84,815$328,500$202 more renters
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 92%715$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Anchorage, AK 99504 92%2,508$86,710$314,000$233 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Harrisburg, PA 17111 91%893$86,385$235,500$165 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32257 91%1,190$75,780$339,300$200 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 91%403$70,120$281,600$187 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 91%320$90,774$306,300$241 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Nottingham, MD 21236 90%935$95,149$327,200$208 6 min longer commute
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 90%1,049$79,085$346,600$250 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32812 90%1,301$73,149$375,200$235 pricier homes ($26K more)
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 90%327$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 89%1,052$93,838$336,900$234 Very close on everything we compare
Newport News, VA 23602 89%1,019$79,475$288,200$193 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Raleigh, NC 27604 89%987$70,375$349,200$208 newer homes
Jacksonville, FL 32217 89%1,187$73,832$325,100$189 smaller
Columbus, OH 43230 89%622$91,424$306,500$206 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Waukesha, WI 53188 89%277$92,409$348,600$237 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 89%716$87,685$442,200$208 pricier homes ($93K more) · more single-family homes
Manchester, CT 06042 88%1,060$91,892$237,400$224 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Middletown, CT 06457 88%1,059$79,463$295,300$235 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Newark, DE 19713 88%963$76,493$292,600$215 cheaper homes ($57K 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.