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 55416

Minneapolis: median income $105,958, home value $461,500, $272/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Towson, MD 21204 92%936$99,606$594,800$261 pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75248 90%848$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($115K more)
Madison, WI 53705 89%232$88,549$475,400$340 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76109 89%874$100,507$630,800$269 pricier homes ($169K more)
Houston, TX 77079 89%1,056$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($218K more)
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 88%972$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78209 88%1,105$86,514$497,000$266 pricier homes ($36K more)
Raleigh, NC 27609 87%994$83,065$471,200$311 Very close on everything we compare
Baltimore, MD 21209 86%934$91,437$440,800$215 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75244 86%851$120,286$617,800$322 pricier homes ($156K more) · smaller
South Burlington, VT 05403 85%988$105,616$442,400$281 smaller · newer homes
Decatur, GA 30033 85%908$111,616$455,300$265 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Middleton, WI 53562 85%229$101,381$532,200$270 pricier homes ($71K more) · newer homes
Conshohocken, PA 19428 84%975$122,835$478,500$315 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28210 84%944$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($70K more)
Charlottesville, VA 22902 83%903$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Atlanta, GA 30328 83%897$112,111$561,900$236 pricier homes ($100K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Orlando, FL 32803 83%1,309$107,592$455,600$334 smaller · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37206 83%697$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($139K more) · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43220 83%622$74,298$473,500$241 lower income ($32K less)
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 83%515$94,774$503,100$264 pricier homes ($42K more) · less walkable
Madison, WI 53711 83%234$100,735$424,600$260 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Overland Park, KS 66210 83%422$95,636$373,200$185 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · newer homes
Austin, TX 78723 83%1,039$100,329$562,300$355 pricier homes ($101K more) · 6 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78759 83%1,033$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($213K more) · less walkable

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.