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 55906

Rochester: median income $93,685, home value $377,800, $173/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roanoke, VA 24018 96%801$90,885$348,800$161 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bettendorf, IA 52722 94%201$101,546$311,500$188 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Woodway, TX 76712 94%909$97,903$340,600$179 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45241 93%531$103,585$314,500$193 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 93%349$94,037$321,100$228 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Bridgeport, WV 26330 92%709$88,962$271,800$160 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Jamestown, NC 27282 92%864$91,512$312,900$169 cheaper homes ($65K less) · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46256 92%438$93,847$318,200$163 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Lake Orion, MI 48359 92%468$93,125$350,100$186 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Stevensville, MI 49127 92%330$93,338$296,900$193 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
New Berlin, WI 53151 92%229$101,176$371,200$231 larger
Rapid City, SD 57702 92%544$91,457$389,700$218 larger · older residents
Lafayette, LA 70503 92%962$94,688$341,300$144 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Richmond, VA 23235 91%898$96,083$356,000$221 larger · 5 min longer commute
Lynchburg, VA 24503 91%829$89,137$347,500$168 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Canton, OH 44718 91%602$88,113$297,900$191 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Portage, MI 49024 91%366$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 91%224$100,031$367,900$240 larger
Orchard Park, NY 14127 90%690$109,386$364,900$237 larger
Hummelstown, PA 17036 90%844$115,533$349,700$176 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lancaster, PA 17601 90%869$102,435$354,400$213 larger
Glen Allen, VA 23060 90%893$104,468$409,900$224 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · newer homes
Twinsburg, OH 44087 90%588$99,270$320,400$199 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Saint Joseph, MI 49085 90%331$104,969$304,600$200 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Germantown, WI 53022 90%223$100,890$373,400$219 Very close on everything we compare

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.