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 Prior Lake, MN 55372

Prior Lake: median income $145,499, home value $467,400, $206/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 96%965$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23456 94%1,060$130,533$474,700$251 larger
Avon, OH 44011 94%617$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Clarkston, MI 48348 93%517$129,410$444,500$212 Very close on everything we compare
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 92%991$157,009$488,100$252 smaller
Collegeville, PA 19426 92%966$151,748$498,700$250 pricier homes ($31K more)
Union, KY 41091 92%598$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Granville, OH 43023 92%640$142,852$473,100$220 smaller
Pickerington, OH 43147 92%637$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Springboro, OH 45066 92%589$131,250$393,500$181 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Bartlett, IL 60103 92%322$133,793$379,000$232 cheaper homes ($88K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 92%431$137,648$409,100$183 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 91%955$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Crestwood, KY 40014 91%602$121,189$393,700$187 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Plain City, OH 43064 91%607$139,591$461,900$230 smaller
South Lyon, MI 48178 91%512$131,558$410,500$203 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 7 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64157 91%379$149,526$386,400$198 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Layton, UT 84040 91%968$128,365$542,500$210 pricier homes ($75K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23322 90%1,055$134,880$463,300$239 larger
Brighton, MI 48114 90%505$124,063$405,400$213 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Elgin, IL 60124 90%313$139,982$430,900$211 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute
Lees Summit, MO 64082 90%408$131,453$411,700$193 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Merrimack, NH 03054 89%1,096$127,303$458,700$264 Very close on everything we compare
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 89%983$134,762$384,500$225 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Center Valley, PA 18034 89%956$153,200$475,900$235 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.