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 55432

Minneapolis: median income $79,520, home value $301,800, $187/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Whitehall, PA 18052 94%947$75,665$262,900$201 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Allentown, PA 18103 94%950$72,895$272,700$193 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Newark, DE 19713 94%967$76,493$292,600$215 Very close on everything we compare
Bristol, CT 06010 93%1,044$79,314$277,900$229 larger
Norfolk, VA 23518 93%1,049$77,594$300,700$238 Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, MI 49519 93%403$73,762$238,700$189 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Aurora, IL 60506 93%336$79,517$253,700$211 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Chesapeake, VA 23325 92%1,052$69,909$272,000$235 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23601 92%1,032$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Hampton, VA 23669 92%1,038$71,222$260,400$187 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Kansas City, MO 64118 92%412$74,740$225,300$177 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Meriden, CT 06450 91%1,054$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Glen Burnie, MD 21061 91%942$87,751$339,100$236 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32217 91%1,204$73,832$325,100$189 smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 91%408$70,120$281,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60435 91%355$76,369$235,500$184 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80917 91%729$72,991$387,800$200 pricier homes ($86K more)
New Castle, DE 19720 90%973$75,403$265,000$203 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Halethorpe, MD 21227 90%937$85,986$289,400$209 older homes
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 90%1,058$79,085$346,600$250 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Elgin, IL 60120 90%327$82,449$242,300$205 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Glendale Heights, IL 60139 90%339$86,372$261,800$220 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80915 90%729$72,352$350,600$199 pricier homes ($49K more)
Spokane, WA 99206 90%1,154$81,764$404,100$206 pricier homes ($102K more) · older residents
Harrisburg, PA 17111 89%897$86,385$235,500$165 cheaper homes ($66K less) · newer 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.