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 55422

Minneapolis: median income $93,914, home value $325,900, $199/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Camp Hill, PA 17011 96%895$92,556$277,800$178 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 94%742$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Albany, NY 12205 92%983$91,020$276,600$245 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Madison, WI 53716 92%241$91,716$356,800$254 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Dayton, OH 45429 91%595$80,210$238,700$166 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Kansas City, MO 64114 91%423$81,275$280,900$218 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Emmaus, PA 18049 90%954$93,694$315,700$208 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Wilmington, DE 19809 90%977$81,288$314,900$217 smaller
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 90%613$104,875$335,600$265 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44126 90%628$79,269$239,000$200 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Beaver, PA 15009 89%722$88,294$261,000$187 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Greendale, WI 53129 89%302$95,012$311,800$231 smaller
Newington, CT 06111 88%1,058$102,884$310,400$251 older residents
Buffalo, NY 14223 88%733$84,161$216,500$213 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Buffalo, NY 14226 88%736$84,325$263,800$218 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Pittsburgh, PA 15236 88%750$90,767$233,400$194 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 6 min longer commute
Allentown, PA 18104 88%951$94,601$336,400$195 larger · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68124 88%294$98,750$301,400$185 smaller
South Hadley, MA 01075 87%1,053$93,910$357,900$264 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12302 87%971$98,163$255,700$220 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12303 87%976$84,375$238,100$226 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Wilmington, DE 19808 87%971$94,234$337,800$213 newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45236 87%608$84,037$231,300$214 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more renters
Dayton, OH 45419 87%594$92,264$248,400$189 cheaper homes ($78K less) · smaller
Clawson, MI 48017 87%536$88,812$267,500$208 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · 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.