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 55438

Minneapolis: median income $106,432, home value $414,600, $199/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Germantown, WI 53022 91%284$100,890$373,400$219 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Pewaukee, WI 53072 91%281$98,538$437,800$252 larger
Novi, MI 48375 90%522$112,545$376,900$204 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Hummelstown, PA 17036 89%903$115,533$349,700$176 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 88%994$101,349$432,400$265 Very close on everything we compare
Williston, VT 05495 88%995$107,054$470,300$288 pricier homes ($56K more)
Reading, PA 19610 88%936$87,374$343,600$186 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Brookfield, WI 53045 88%287$123,750$457,700$241 pricier homes ($43K more)
Sellersville, PA 18960 87%966$109,028$408,300$234 8 min longer commute
Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 87%927$121,350$495,700$236 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 87%523$113,865$389,400$169 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Cromwell, CT 06416 86%1,063$110,596$325,200$252 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Getzville, NY 14068 86%737$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Kennett Square, PA 19348 86%963$123,526$543,100$231 pricier homes ($129K more) · larger
Akron, OH 44321 86%646$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($51K less) · newer homes
Northville, MI 48167 86%522$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
New Berlin, WI 53151 86%292$101,176$371,200$231 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Orchard Park, NY 14127 85%742$109,386$364,900$237 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Victor, NY 14564 85%803$115,625$353,900$218 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Yorktown, VA 23692 85%1,026$109,066$417,200$222 more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45241 85%599$103,585$314,500$193 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Waunakee, WI 53597 85%226$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($79K more) · newer homes
Lancaster, PA 17601 84%928$102,435$354,400$213 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Henrico, VA 23238 84%968$101,523$420,500$241 larger · more renters
Westlake, OH 44145 84%622$112,200$368,200$207 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more 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.