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.

Reset

Towns most like Minneapolis, MN 55435

Minneapolis: median income $79,884, home value $361,300, $216/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilmington, DE 19806 76%972$88,855$386,000$259 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Madison, WI 53717 74%227$98,180$415,100$240 pricier homes ($54K more) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
White Plains, NY 10601 73%1,022$85,859$372,900$318 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Towson, MD 21286 73%935$93,808$430,100$216 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46240 73%503$75,156$348,000$207 younger residents · more single-family homes
Wyncote, PA 19095 72%981$97,727$456,400$208 pricier homes ($95K more) · smaller · younger residents
Denver, CO 80237 72%692$85,705$582,500$241 pricier homes ($221K more) · larger · younger residents
Aurora, CO 80014 71%688$73,210$416,200$212 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21209 70%932$91,437$440,800$215 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · younger residents
Falls Church, VA 22041 70%929$92,636$452,300$311 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · younger residents
Columbus, OH 43220 70%620$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · younger residents
Skokie, IL 60077 70%342$78,523$355,900$277 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Westmont, IL 60559 70%344$90,963$365,300$280 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Miami, FL 33180 69%1,499$91,055$501,000$330 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77025 69%1,055$81,008$586,600$215 pricier homes ($225K more) · larger · younger residents
Winooski, VT 05404 68%988$79,522$381,500$280 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Oakmont, PA 15139 68%747$92,782$334,500$237 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cockeysville, MD 21030 68%929$89,015$450,700$233 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · younger residents
Raleigh, NC 27609 68%991$83,065$471,200$311 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46250 68%505$67,328$327,600$155 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Forest Park, IL 60130 68%346$77,221$304,700$244 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents · older homes
Fort Worth, TX 76107 68%866$79,990$431,200$280 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · younger residents
Houston, TX 77004 68%1,053$71,199$412,800$192 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · younger residents
Phoenix, AZ 85020 68%1,266$83,735$447,200$289 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Trenton, NJ 08628 67%992$108,158$369,500$223 higher income ($28K more) · more single-family homes · 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.