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 South Saint Paul, MN 55075

South Saint Paul: median income $88,386, home value $281,700, $196/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merchantville, NJ 08109 96%977$90,242$252,000$222 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Schenectady, NY 12306 94%959$83,202$222,500$213 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Wilmington, DE 19804 92%957$79,701$264,100$219 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50310 92%228$76,381$222,700$212 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15229 91%725$90,703$243,500$194 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Norfolk, VA 23509 91%1,034$72,816$258,000$211 smaller
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 91%292$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 90%1,041$81,205$258,800$226 smaller
Deptford, NJ 08096 90%985$89,013$269,000$222 larger
Camp Hill, PA 17011 90%879$92,556$277,800$178 larger
Wilmington, DE 19809 90%961$81,288$314,900$217 pricier homes ($33K more)
Villa Park, IL 60181 90%328$92,142$311,500$269 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min longer commute
Shawnee, KS 66203 90%413$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Ogden, UT 84403 90%986$88,236$422,900$214 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger
Cranston, RI 02910 89%1,104$90,698$338,700$271 pricier homes ($57K more) · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08610 89%986$83,906$264,600$282 larger
Albany, NY 12205 89%968$91,020$276,600$245 older residents
Schenectady, NY 12303 89%961$84,375$238,100$226 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable
Emmaus, PA 18049 89%938$93,694$315,700$208 pricier homes ($34K more)
Grand Rapids, MI 49505 89%391$74,906$246,700$214 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Janesville, WI 53545 89%249$73,889$220,700$168 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Aurora, IL 60506 89%320$79,517$253,700$211 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Springfield, MA 01118 88%1,044$80,250$275,100$242 more single-family homes
North Providence, RI 02911 88%1,100$89,456$360,200$251 pricier homes ($79K more)
West Hartford, CT 06110 88%1,041$87,539$285,200$291 smaller

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.