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 55411

Minneapolis: median income $60,225, home value $245,400, $145/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spokane, WA 99207 90%1,158$60,452$274,100$185 pricier homes ($29K more)
Omaha, NE 68105 89%292$57,533$208,800$162 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Memphis, TN 38112 88%703$55,207$252,100$130 smaller
Racine, WI 53403 88%316$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Fresno, CA 93728 88%1,489$62,986$274,200$221 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Schenectady, NY 12308 86%974$63,434$211,900$159 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Bethlehem, PA 18015 86%956$60,800$281,700$184 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46219 86%516$60,803$184,900$118 cheaper homes ($61K less) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43204 85%626$59,266$185,800$162 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · newer homes
Oshkosh, WI 54901 85%244$61,794$177,700$163 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68108 85%292$53,609$159,700$168 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Houston, TX 77023 85%1,061$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01109 84%1,055$48,415$219,900$208 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23707 84%1,046$48,926$230,800$178 smaller · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45211 84%601$53,868$169,500$142 cheaper homes ($76K less) · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 84%406$61,461$199,300$188 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63116 84%470$61,433$174,100$177 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · older residents
Lincoln, NE 68502 84%338$68,523$227,300$153 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45212 83%606$72,422$257,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46208 83%509$60,062$220,500$114 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46805 83%493$52,154$154,200$147 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 83%402$70,119$243,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53214 83%296$60,962$188,300$197 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76103 83%873$60,172$205,000$171 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78210 83%1,114$55,028$189,400$174 cheaper homes ($56K less)

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.