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 Rochester, MN 55901

Rochester: median income $94,607, home value $317,000, $177/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westerville, OH 43081 95%561$92,422$329,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43230 95%566$91,424$306,500$206 Very close on everything we compare
Perrysburg, OH 43551 95%483$95,846$311,100$198 older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49009 95%364$80,930$346,600$181 pricier homes ($30K more)
De Pere, WI 54115 92%220$94,721$339,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70508 92%960$86,005$305,300$163 Very close on everything we compare
Hilliard, OH 43026 91%554$111,440$347,900$212 pricier homes ($31K more)
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 91%174$97,051$379,500$224 pricier homes ($63K more)
Midland, TX 79707 91%982$99,886$389,400$162 pricier homes ($72K more)
Newark, DE 19711 90%911$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($82K more) · older homes
Lexington, KY 40515 90%592$86,268$340,500$191 smaller
Omaha, NE 68164 90%264$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Midland, TX 79705 90%980$105,310$351,700$188 pricier homes ($35K more)
Morgantown, WV 26508 89%715$90,041$311,500$174 Very close on everything we compare
Greensboro, NC 27410 89%862$85,291$338,600$187 older residents
Lexington, KY 40509 89%592$94,804$366,300$191 pricier homes ($49K more) · newer homes
Portage, MI 49024 89%369$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Saint Charles, MO 63303 89%379$99,138$321,100$163 older residents
Kansas City, MO 64151 89%352$92,876$323,000$166 smaller
Columbia, MO 65203 89%353$79,960$348,800$176 pricier homes ($32K more)
Bellevue, NE 68123 89%268$93,188$290,800$170 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 89%949$92,098$365,000$186 pricier homes ($48K more)
Tyler, TX 75703 89%828$79,194$336,300$179 Very close on everything we compare
Grandville, MI 49418 88%347$84,846$321,700$212 smaller
Ankeny, IA 50021 88%170$99,572$317,200$229 smaller · 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.