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 55407

Minneapolis: median income $78,464, home value $335,400, $228/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43206 93%627$75,806$317,300$193 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53207 92%299$79,117$243,600$241 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Oaklyn, NJ 08107 88%987$80,833$300,500$259 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45212 88%602$72,422$257,700$183 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45227 87%605$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63109 87%465$69,938$264,700$201 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45213 86%602$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46205 86%506$72,417$304,500$135 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 85%744$63,086$321,100$226 smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 84%398$70,119$243,500$200 cheaper homes ($92K less) · newer homes
New Orleans, LA 70118 84%1,049$63,750$465,600$253 pricier homes ($130K more)
Worcester, MA 01602 82%1,084$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents · newer homes
Lakewood, OH 44107 82%623$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63130 82%459$85,823$316,100$202 more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75208 82%864$81,950$438,400$281 pricier homes ($103K more) · newer homes
Manchester, CT 06040 81%1,061$83,422$259,400$224 cheaper homes ($76K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14216 81%728$69,629$294,700$200 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15216 81%739$80,313$206,500$196 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15218 81%746$67,960$217,500$190 cheaper homes ($118K less) · smaller · older residents
Covington, KY 41011 81%604$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63139 81%463$75,757$209,600$205 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78212 81%1,108$62,801$330,600$197 more renters
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 80%735$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 80%743$72,920$317,600$235 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburgh, PA 15211 80%740$79,758$219,900$206 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · more renters

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.