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 55446

Minneapolis: median income $170,625, home value $583,500, $210/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glen Allen, VA 23059 92%966$157,897$593,700$238 larger
Wexford, PA 15090 89%745$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older homes
Alpharetta, GA 30005 89%902$176,957$636,300$236 pricier homes ($53K more) · more renters
Apex, NC 27502 88%1,002$143,922$550,900$241 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30004 88%898$156,100$657,700$249 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger
Mars, PA 16046 87%743$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 7 min longer commute
Cary, NC 27519 87%996$165,586$670,900$267 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more renters
New Albany, OH 43054 87%642$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($73K less) · more renters
Apex, NC 27523 86%1,002$135,625$659,300$252 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($76K more)
Lewis Center, OH 43035 86%630$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Northville, MI 48168 86%530$187,589$582,600$224 older residents
Davidson, NC 28036 85%938$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($47K more)
Gambrills, MD 21054 84%954$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Carmel, IN 46032 83%513$132,085$496,800$218 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Aurora, IL 60502 83%345$156,904$412,300$225 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 8 min longer commute
Littleton, CO 80130 83%696$158,741$691,800$235 pricier homes ($108K more) · more single-family homes
Leesburg, VA 20175 82%912$174,854$780,600$285 pricier homes ($197K more)
Westerville, OH 43082 82%636$147,972$458,200$214 cheaper homes ($125K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Zionsville, IN 46077 82%508$177,679$580,600$198 more single-family homes
Littleton, CO 80129 82%700$141,667$663,800$266 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($80K more) · more renters
Malvern, PA 19355 81%974$169,417$692,300$315 pricier homes ($109K more) · older homes
Sterling, VA 20165 81%922$183,076$704,800$295 pricier homes ($121K more) · 6 min longer commute
Fort Mill, SC 29708 81%953$132,018$515,200$226 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Novi, MI 48374 81%528$182,827$577,700$222 smaller · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Verona, WI 53593 81%241$135,023$483,700$266 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($100K less) · more renters

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.