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 55420

Minneapolis: median income $82,170, home value $328,400, $207/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merchantville, NJ 08109 94%987$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Cranston, RI 02920 93%1,113$80,717$370,000$280 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 93%301$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($93K less)
North Providence, RI 02911 92%1,111$89,456$360,200$251 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23518 92%1,043$77,594$300,700$238 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Ogden, UT 84403 92%974$88,236$422,900$214 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Warwick, RI 02886 91%1,116$92,047$366,400$285 pricier homes ($38K more)
Trenton, NJ 08610 91%996$83,906$264,600$282 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Schenectady, NY 12306 91%970$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Wilmington, DE 19804 91%967$79,701$264,100$219 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Wilmington, DE 19809 91%971$81,288$314,900$217 smaller
Villa Park, IL 60181 91%335$92,142$311,500$269 Very close on everything we compare
Shawnee, KS 66203 91%407$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Fresno, CA 93704 91%1,486$73,234$401,600$252 pricier homes ($73K more)
West Hartford, CT 06110 90%1,052$87,539$285,200$291 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Deptford, NJ 08096 90%995$89,013$269,000$222 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Emmaus, PA 18049 90%948$93,694$315,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
Allentown, PA 18103 90%948$72,895$272,700$193 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23509 90%1,042$72,816$258,000$211 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87112 90%969$73,937$281,400$209 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · newer homes
Cranston, RI 02910 89%1,115$90,698$338,700$271 older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32217 89%1,191$73,832$325,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50310 89%223$76,381$222,700$212 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Des Plaines, IL 60018 89%334$90,574$318,100$272 Very close on everything we compare
Aurora, IL 60506 89%326$79,517$253,700$211 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger

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.