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 Minneapolis, MN 55401

Minneapolis: median income $113,522, home value $396,500, $318/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75219 91%862$102,364$388,600$304 larger
Charlotte, NC 28202 88%939$105,889$443,500$361 pricier homes ($47K more)
Chicago, IL 60661 84%354$125,741$392,900$407 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30308 83%907$85,693$390,200$359 lower income ($28K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60606 82%354$128,609$416,400$334 smaller
Houston, TX 77006 80%1,060$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($218K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Charlotte, NC 28204 79%940$92,054$585,200$326 pricier homes ($189K more) · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60601 79%355$121,458$526,200$494 pricier homes ($130K more) · 9 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60607 79%354$127,732$499,700$417 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75204 79%862$92,253$479,500$314 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 78%698$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($326K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60605 77%355$123,922$453,200$334 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Stamford, CT 06901 76%1,030$102,641$478,700$463 pricier homes ($82K more) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30326 76%903$121,984$448,000$323 pricier homes ($52K more) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Houston, TX 77098 76%1,060$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($391K more) · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 75%905$114,072$432,300$342 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46204 75%511$86,396$381,400$234 lower income ($27K less) · more renters
Chicago, IL 60654 75%354$147,357$500,400$404 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97209 74%1,423$80,301$587,300$343 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($191K more) · larger
Orlando, FL 32801 73%1,310$80,871$428,000$274 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute
Miami, FL 33132 73%1,513$109,109$524,300$550 pricier homes ($128K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33602 73%1,318$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($257K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43215 73%627$74,087$551,200$287 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($155K more) · larger
Chicago, IL 60642 73%353$143,175$593,600$385 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($197K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77027 72%1,060$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($463K more) · 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.