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 55405

Minneapolis: median income $73,053, home value $467,700, $244/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14222 94%731$81,652$407,600$217 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53211 91%299$75,256$434,500$282 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 89%746$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Worcester, MA 01609 88%1,087$68,381$444,000$267 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23220 88%967$61,381$473,100$318 larger
Columbus, OH 43202 88%625$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($126K less) · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44113 86%631$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($168K less) · more renters
Burlington, VT 05401 85%984$65,657$492,100$360 larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64111 85%414$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Buffalo, NY 14216 84%731$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($173K less)
Northampton, MA 01060 83%1,047$76,848$453,400$344 older residents
New Orleans, LA 70118 82%1,052$63,750$465,600$253 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
New Orleans, LA 70130 82%1,054$80,212$562,800$325 pricier homes ($95K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
New Haven, CT 06515 81%1,053$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($139K less) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 81%745$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($216K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 81%745$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($221K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45220 81%604$53,440$402,900$200 cheaper homes ($65K less) · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63108 81%464$55,147$372,200$213 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63110 81%466$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more single-family homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 80%1,054$99,688$378,400$281 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 80%691$54,561$441,500$221 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Tulsa, OK 74120 80%626$68,255$434,600$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Baltimore, MD 21231 79%940$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($118K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Norfolk, VA 23517 79%1,047$67,375$386,600$214 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45202 79%606$95,633$443,600$278 more apartments and townhomes

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.