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 55441

Minneapolis: median income $101,981, home value $470,100, $214/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Essex Junction, VT 05452 95%995$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Henrico, VA 23238 94%975$101,523$420,500$241 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Maitland, FL 32751 93%1,310$95,387$453,700$291 Very close on everything we compare
Charlottesville, VA 22901 92%903$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 92%417$99,343$417,900$213 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45249 91%611$105,804$495,000$214 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30345 90%911$112,054$573,800$242 pricier homes ($104K more) · 6 min longer commute
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 90%726$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22902 89%909$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Columbia, SC 29206 89%1,006$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Farmington, MI 48334 89%531$102,228$347,700$162 cheaper homes ($122K less)
Novi, MI 48375 89%527$112,545$376,900$204 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Trenton, NJ 08628 88%998$108,158$369,500$223 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hatfield, PA 19440 88%975$99,408$438,500$258 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cary, NC 27511 88%998$107,860$456,000$286 larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 88%522$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Middleton, WI 53562 88%234$101,381$532,200$270 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Arlington Heights, IL 60005 88%340$99,743$390,000$261 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Metairie, LA 70005 88%1,052$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 87%1,065$100,027$337,300$242 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Getzville, NY 14068 87%740$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Reading, PA 19610 87%941$87,374$343,600$186 cheaper homes ($127K less) · older residents
Newark, DE 19711 87%972$95,403$398,900$217 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32819 87%1,318$98,109$489,700$278 larger
Birmingham, AL 35243 87%874$99,645$538,400$233 pricier homes ($68K more) · 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.