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 55412

Minneapolis: median income $68,682, home value $232,100, $189/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Worth, TX 76110 90%878$69,790$258,000$231 pricier homes ($26K more)
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 87%407$61,461$199,300$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15226 86%745$73,321$182,900$161 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Racine, WI 53405 86%316$69,242$174,000$185 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Spokane, WA 99205 86%1,161$77,374$327,400$190 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Hampton, VA 23661 85%1,039$65,446$220,500$197 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23509 84%1,049$72,816$258,000$211 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · newer homes
Latonia, KY 41015 84%613$65,683$187,700$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14609 82%790$64,603$161,600$167 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15214 82%742$61,645$185,900$169 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23222 82%969$61,345$274,800$218 pricier homes ($43K more) · more renters · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44129 82%634$70,651$166,400$175 cheaper homes ($66K less) · newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50310 82%236$76,381$222,700$212 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15227 80%748$75,448$185,100$163 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · newer homes
Springfield, MA 01118 79%1,057$80,250$275,100$242 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · newer homes
Tonawanda, NY 14150 79%730$71,406$200,700$205 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Covington, KY 41016 79%608$71,172$173,500$185 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Berea, OH 44017 79%628$75,231$198,400$170 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 79%533$60,742$231,800$174 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53219 79%299$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Bellwood, IL 60104 79%348$79,513$230,000$219 newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14225 78%737$67,237$170,400$202 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14619 78%787$68,333$134,700$129 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15207 78%749$57,427$150,200$141 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · older residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15234 78%746$78,366$206,600$206 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 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.