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 55414

Minneapolis: median income $51,966, home value $440,500, $233/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43201 87%623$43,731$440,000$272 older homes
Madison, WI 53703 83%231$47,847$471,800$436 pricier homes ($31K more)
Provo, UT 84606 77%990$52,811$443,600$275 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50309 74%235$56,777$292,500$213 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · older residents
Tempe, AZ 85281 74%1,275$64,538$381,000$345 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46202 73%508$63,506$439,200$222 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Carrboro, NC 27510 71%970$61,837$449,700$282 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Madison, WI 53715 70%231$38,996$450,600$356 smaller · older homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84111 70%986$52,952$440,200$399 smaller · older residents
Addison, TX 75001 69%853$73,514$468,800$259 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Austin, TX 78741 69%1,048$66,741$420,100$267 older residents
Portland, OR 97201 69%1,426$63,250$673,600$303 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30329 68%904$76,579$488,300$229 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Gainesville, FL 32607 68%1,212$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($119K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Eugene, OR 97401 66%1,464$52,022$494,100$328 pricier homes ($54K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43215 65%624$74,087$551,200$287 pricier homes ($111K more) · smaller · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53202 65%296$71,034$340,800$278 cheaper homes ($100K less) · older residents · older homes
Irving, TX 75038 65%861$68,990$408,000$232 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75240 65%853$58,320$395,100$220 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Austin, TX 78752 65%1,041$67,682$422,000$334 smaller · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84102 65%985$52,199$548,700$364 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller · older residents
Denton, TX 76201 64%838$39,982$257,700$188 cheaper homes ($183K less) · more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85004 64%1,280$73,750$417,400$331 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75287 63%850$63,741$405,600$230 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Philadelphia, PA 19122 61%981$63,676$349,800$247 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute

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.