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 55409

Minneapolis: median income $98,305, home value $378,600, $267/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53213 93%293$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Collingswood, NJ 08108 91%989$108,151$395,300$332 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45226 90%606$97,558$408,400$273 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63117 86%461$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63130 86%458$85,823$316,100$202 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 85%742$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Des Moines, IA 50312 85%232$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 84%745$95,668$455,100$281 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more renters
Columbus, OH 43214 84%621$94,183$400,400$290 larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 83%743$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($67K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45213 83%603$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53226 83%291$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43209 82%629$89,713$392,500$256 larger · newer homes
Hamden, CT 06517 81%1,053$104,550$339,400$255 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 81%742$123,681$383,700$263 higher income ($25K more) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63132 81%457$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63144 81%461$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($74K less) · newer homes
Audubon, NJ 08106 80%989$111,002$304,800$280 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Louisville, KY 40205 80%607$99,966$375,300$208 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Portland, OR 97217 80%1,423$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($200K more) · larger · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35222 79%861$84,066$399,800$251 newer homes
West Hartford, CT 06119 78%1,053$99,688$378,400$281 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Rocky River, OH 44116 78%623$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 77%982$99,562$686,100$374 pricier homes ($308K more) · larger
Portland, OR 97213 77%1,419$97,068$632,100$297 pricier homes ($254K more) · larger · older residents

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.