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.

Reset

Towns most like Minneapolis, MN 55418

Minneapolis: median income $99,397, home value $348,700, $232/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43209 91%630$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($44K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63130 91%464$85,823$316,100$202 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53213 90%294$101,688$340,100$258 Very close on everything we compare
Hamden, CT 06517 88%1,052$104,550$339,400$255 smaller · older residents
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 88%609$104,875$335,600$265 smaller · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43214 88%623$94,183$400,400$290 pricier homes ($52K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53226 88%292$93,132$335,600$245 smaller
Worcester, MA 01606 87%1,085$92,105$370,800$317 Very close on everything we compare
Collingswood, NJ 08108 87%989$108,151$395,300$332 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 87%743$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Dayton, OH 45419 87%590$92,264$248,400$189 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63119 87%468$106,183$351,100$241 Very close on everything we compare
Worcester, MA 01602 86%1,083$91,764$417,300$291 pricier homes ($69K more)
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 86%990$100,951$331,200$254 newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14226 86%731$84,325$263,800$218 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Willow Grove, PA 19090 86%978$99,928$369,100$256 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53207 86%301$79,117$243,600$241 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Audubon, NJ 08106 85%989$111,002$304,800$280 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Des Moines, IA 50312 85%238$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64114 85%424$81,275$280,900$218 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 84%737$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40205 84%610$99,966$375,300$208 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Rocky River, OH 44116 84%623$93,799$349,300$246 older residents · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46220 84%508$108,050$358,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Chicago, IL 60631 84%343$115,000$436,400$280 pricier homes ($88K more) · 6 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.