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 55426

Minneapolis: median income $99,347, home value $364,600, $237/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43209 96%634$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($28K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53226 96%296$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Columbus, OH 43214 93%626$94,183$400,400$290 pricier homes ($36K more)
Rocky River, OH 44116 93%628$93,799$349,300$246 older residents
Portland, ME 04103 91%1,141$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($95K more)
Columbia, SC 29206 91%1,002$91,847$369,500$215 less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63132 91%461$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40207 89%610$101,898$421,200$202 pricier homes ($57K more)
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 89%612$104,875$335,600$265 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Columbus, OH 43085 89%625$112,517$407,100$227 pricier homes ($43K more) · newer homes
Beachwood, OH 44122 89%643$101,230$328,800$202 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46220 89%511$108,050$358,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 88%748$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32803 88%1,311$107,592$455,600$334 pricier homes ($91K more)
Orlando, FL 32806 88%1,313$89,046$441,300$288 pricier homes ($77K more)
Omaha, NE 68124 88%290$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Hamden, CT 06517 87%1,058$104,550$339,400$255 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · older residents
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 87%996$100,951$331,200$254 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35222 87%865$84,066$399,800$251 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Madison, WI 53711 87%236$100,735$424,600$260 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · newer homes
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 87%978$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($203K more)
Richland, WA 99354 87%1,250$91,933$392,600$221 pricier homes ($28K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53213 86%298$101,688$340,100$258 older homes
Lombard, IL 60148 86%343$100,616$344,100$252 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63119 86%467$106,183$351,100$241 more single-family homes

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.