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 55403

Minneapolis: median income $60,873, home value $298,500, $215/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21202 91%938$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53202 89%299$71,034$340,800$278 pricier homes ($42K more)
Houston, TX 77057 87%1,059$66,971$309,400$179 larger
Chicago, IL 60615 86%359$63,876$347,800$200 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77063 85%1,060$59,113$290,300$170 larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75254 84%852$67,216$287,300$217 newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23510 83%1,046$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($87K more) · smaller · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46202 82%510$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($141K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64106 80%410$52,564$238,000$173 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21201 78%937$45,640$275,300$178 more renters
Omaha, NE 68102 78%289$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · older homes
Chicago, IL 60612 77%352$60,922$364,600$292 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64105 75%411$67,235$251,400$251 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80203 75%697$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($172K more)
Denver, CO 80247 75%694$64,498$318,400$223 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 74%605$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Irving, TX 75038 74%859$68,990$408,000$232 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · less walkable
Houston, TX 77042 74%1,059$59,097$411,800$202 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Winooski, VT 05404 73%984$79,522$381,500$280 pricier homes ($83K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 73%905$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($190K more) · larger · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35205 73%864$51,158$293,800$235 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60616 73%356$73,819$387,200$318 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68131 73%289$48,925$227,200$161 cheaper homes ($71K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75240 73%852$58,320$395,100$220 pricier homes ($97K more) · newer homes
Philadelphia, PA 19122 72%984$63,676$349,800$247 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents · newer homes

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.