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 55437

Minneapolis: median income $95,718, home value $381,700, $202/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reading, PA 19610 96%935$87,374$343,600$186 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Metairie, LA 70005 93%1,039$89,194$430,200$249 pricier homes ($49K more)
Dayton, OH 45459 92%590$89,592$302,100$160 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 91%1,061$100,027$337,300$242 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Louisville, KY 40223 91%606$96,607$362,500$179 Very close on everything we compare
Farmington, MI 48334 91%525$102,228$347,700$162 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Montpelier, VT 05602 90%1,021$81,320$360,000$259 smaller
Getzville, NY 14068 90%736$98,750$365,300$221 smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45255 90%610$92,035$303,800$188 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 89%993$101,349$432,400$265 pricier homes ($51K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40243 89%608$77,587$323,200$196 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Westlake, OH 44145 89%621$112,200$368,200$207 larger
Tucson, AZ 85715 89%1,278$85,069$370,000$219 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, NJ 08628 88%992$108,158$369,500$223 smaller
Henrico, VA 23238 88%967$101,523$420,500$241 pricier homes ($39K more)
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 88%330$99,743$390,000$261 larger · 5 min longer commute
Tucson, AZ 85704 88%1,280$81,696$423,900$232 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14221 87%737$101,615$329,600$239 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Norristown, PA 19403 87%969$104,071$375,100$238 larger · 6 min longer commute
Troy, MI 48083 87%535$90,794$315,800$199 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Itasca, IL 60143 87%332$114,420$398,500$231 smaller
Lincoln, RI 02865 86%1,116$105,958$470,300$260 pricier homes ($89K more)
Branford, CT 06405 86%1,063$105,225$401,200$286 older residents
Orchard Park, NY 14127 86%741$109,386$364,900$237 larger · more single-family homes
Pikesville, MD 21208 86%929$90,131$337,900$194 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.