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 Alexandria, MN 56308

Alexandria: median income $78,177, home value $341,900, $194/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Bern, NC 28562 95%1,211$75,012$277,800$183 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Cleveland, TN 37312 94%920$78,261$301,000$195 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 94%204$75,809$283,500$188 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Washington, MO 63090 94%554$85,025$273,600$189 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Roanoke, VA 24019 93%990$77,870$260,800$161 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Johnson City, TN 37615 93%937$77,525$294,900$200 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Cookeville, TN 38506 93%846$70,279$288,100$193 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Grand Haven, MI 49417 93%494$83,405$316,300$248 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Tyler, TX 75707 93%938$84,954$274,900$173 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Brenham, TX 77833 93%1,086$73,388$280,500$172 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Bellefonte, PA 16823 92%946$76,245$272,800$188 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Easton, MD 21601 92%1,098$83,680$376,400$232 pricier homes ($35K more)
Hixson, TN 37343 92%912$82,227$307,100$193 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Tipp City, OH 45371 92%699$93,599$302,300$164 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 92%399$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Elkhorn, WI 53121 92%403$85,643$313,500$222 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute
Reedsburg, WI 53959 92%310$77,924$255,300$176 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Houma, LA 70360 92%1,153$84,890$286,000$157 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Kerrville, TX 78028 92%1,113$66,991$323,200$210 larger
Montrose, CO 81401 92%818$71,286$374,300$280 pricier homes ($32K more)
Yakima, WA 98908 92%1,206$84,197$383,900$242 pricier homes ($42K more)
Queensbury, NY 12804 91%1,078$89,127$311,400$248 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Swannanoa, NC 28778 91%979$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Appleton, WI 54915 91%361$87,426$269,700$187 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Fond Du Lac, WI 54937 91%363$81,841$272,200$192 cheaper homes ($70K less)

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.