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 55454

Minneapolis: median income $23,100, home value $186,600, $127/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53233 83%295$23,750$137,500$146 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63106 83%464$20,679$214,400$88 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Cleveland, OH 44115 75%630$22,056$178,000$205 7 min shorter commute
Hartford, CT 06120 70%1,053$34,830$184,400$156 larger
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 69%911$33,329$203,600— smaller · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12307 65%971$24,758$104,600$122 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Springfield, MA 01105 62%1,051$24,036$217,800$136 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45203 61%603$21,973$356,900$185 pricier homes ($170K more) · smaller · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53205 58%295$31,529$124,200$96 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Syracuse, NY 13202 57%858$27,000$88,500$202 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 8 min shorter commute · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 57%741$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Allentown, PA 18101 57%948$44,773$171,300$136 Very close on everything we compare
Tallahassee, FL 32304 57%1,114$32,348$150,900$148 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40203 56%603$30,794$197,300$145 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32202 55%1,191$34,825$268,800$159 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents
Lubbock, TX 79401 55%910$26,980$105,600$114 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Fresno, CA 93701 55%1,490$32,768$246,400$172 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Chattanooga, TN 37410 53%806$28,708$153,400$174 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 53%222$35,060$157,100$198 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Fresno, CA 93721 52%1,491$40,033$243,800$157 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45225 51%600$20,348$103,100$66 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Cincinnati, OH 45232 51%599$28,367$130,500$87 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Knoxville, TN 37915 50%791$26,379$210,800$322 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lincoln, NE 68508 50%336$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Springfield, MO 65806 49%537$28,165$88,600$138 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 9 min shorter 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.