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 55445

Minneapolis: median income $104,150, home value $329,400, $173/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mantua, NJ 08051 88%996$92,071$267,200$237 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Enola, PA 17025 88%897$91,285$245,400$175 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 87%245$98,333$314,400$215 less walkable
Anchorage, AK 99515 87%2,491$113,995$427,500$269 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 85%1,068$93,838$336,900$234 larger · more renters
Altoona, IA 50009 85%240$88,447$278,300$237 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · more renters
West Salem, WI 54669 85%141$103,194$312,300$168 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Absecon, NJ 08205 84%1,040$93,370$292,400$208 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Grandville, MI 49418 84%408$84,846$321,700$212 larger · more renters
Mesa, AZ 85213 84%1,267$103,969$438,900$270 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger
Mount Holly, NJ 08060 83%1,007$109,292$338,100$234 larger · 7 min longer commute
Blacklick, OH 43004 83%642$101,175$335,400$195 larger · newer homes
Deforest, WI 53532 83%238$110,022$371,600$227 pricier homes ($42K more) · less walkable
South Elgin, IL 60177 83%334$126,144$340,000$219 larger · 7 min longer commute
Ogden, UT 84405 83%974$84,106$425,100$203 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Palmyra, PA 17078 82%913$93,135$305,700$190 larger · older residents
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017 82%617$97,274$293,500$201 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 82%405$81,657$306,700$207 larger · more renters
Urbandale, IA 50322 82%242$92,085$276,200$202 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054 82%239$119,716$301,900$155 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Lincoln, NE 68512 82%345$104,448$322,400$167 more renters
Midland, TX 79705 82%1,018$105,310$351,700$188 larger · more renters · less walkable
Anchorage, AK 99507 82%2,489$107,992$384,100$266 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Smithfield, RI 02917 81%1,114$110,938$451,800$281 pricier homes ($122K more)
Camden Wyoming, DE 19934 81%999$87,125$336,300$180 more single-family 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.