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 55408

Minneapolis: median income $70,326, home value $396,100, $214/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46202 88%509$63,506$439,200$222 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60615 88%359$63,876$347,800$200 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53202 86%298$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Cleveland, OH 44113 84%630$71,941$299,400$252 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · older homes
New Haven, CT 06511 83%1,053$59,969$353,000$247 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · older homes
Columbus, OH 43202 82%624$69,524$341,400$264 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77057 82%1,057$66,971$309,400$179 cheaper homes ($87K less) · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21202 81%937$59,377$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Worcester, MA 01609 80%1,086$68,381$444,000$267 pricier homes ($48K more) · more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23220 80%966$61,381$473,100$318 pricier homes ($77K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Denver, CO 80203 79%697$77,500$470,800$361 pricier homes ($75K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63108 78%463$55,147$372,200$213 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30329 77%904$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($92K more) · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68102 77%288$64,111$389,400$329 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64111 76%412$61,729$286,700$219 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77063 76%1,058$59,113$290,300$170 cheaper homes ($106K less) · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14607 75%788$59,787$350,100$171 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Baltimore, MD 21231 75%938$85,254$350,100$226 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older homes
Chicago, IL 60612 75%352$60,922$364,600$292 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Chicago, IL 60616 75%356$73,819$387,200$318 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Denver, CO 80231 75%694$76,502$500,600$232 pricier homes ($105K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Winooski, VT 05404 74%985$79,522$381,500$280 smaller · newer homes
New Haven, CT 06515 74%1,051$73,709$328,900$254 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23510 74%1,046$73,524$385,700$246 smaller · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75254 74%850$67,216$287,300$217 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 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.