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 55428

Minneapolis: median income $74,860, home value $299,500, $188/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newport News, VA 23601 95%1,038$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53220 95%305$69,319$229,300$213 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Allentown, PA 18103 94%957$72,895$272,700$193 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Omaha, NE 68134 94%293$66,989$222,000$165 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Harrisburg, PA 17109 93%901$71,833$215,900$163 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Whitehall, PA 18052 92%953$75,665$262,900$201 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32217 92%1,207$73,832$325,100$189 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Meriden, CT 06450 91%1,060$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($57K less)
West Haven, CT 06516 91%1,059$74,382$291,700$246 larger
Chesapeake, VA 23325 91%1,057$69,909$272,000$235 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23513 91%1,054$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Norfolk, VA 23518 91%1,054$77,594$300,700$238 6 min longer commute
Lakeland, FL 33803 91%1,335$65,807$250,100$194 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Waukesha, WI 53186 91%293$74,588$301,100$224 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53227 91%301$73,321$225,900$218 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80909 91%725$64,035$386,200$192 pricier homes ($87K more)
Pendleton, OR 97801 91%1,229$71,639$293,000$197 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Newark, DE 19713 90%973$76,493$292,600$215 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 90%875$66,423$280,700$196 newer homes
Henrico, VA 23228 90%980$70,260$283,500$235 less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23502 90%1,057$63,208$266,200$209 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Hampton, VA 23669 90%1,043$71,222$260,400$187 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32207 90%1,203$65,234$307,200$226 Very close on everything we compare
Melbourne, FL 32935 90%1,362$64,588$263,200$194 cheaper homes ($36K less) · newer homes
Wyoming, MI 49519 90%409$73,762$238,700$189 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 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.