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.

Reset

Towns most like Saint Paul, MN 55101

Saint Paul: median income $64,863, home value $260,400, $210/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baltimore, MD 21202 86%928$59,377$271,800$203 larger · 6 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64106 80%411$52,564$238,000$173 younger residents · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68102 80%293$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($129K more)
Tulsa, OK 74119 80%627$56,234$251,700$125 smaller
Schenectady, NY 12305 78%963$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Buffalo, NY 14202 78%721$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($219K more) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23510 78%1,038$73,524$385,700$246 pricier homes ($125K more) · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45206 78%597$62,648$271,700$213 more homeowners · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63101 78%461$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64105 77%411$67,235$251,400$251 younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23517 76%1,037$67,375$386,600$214 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63102 76%461$65,527$192,100$146 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · more renters
Baltimore, MD 21201 75%928$45,640$275,300$178 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53202 75%290$71,034$340,800$278 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44113 74%621$71,941$299,400$252 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Rochester, NY 14607 73%779$59,787$350,100$171 pricier homes ($90K more) · larger · younger residents
Little Rock, AR 72202 73%707$50,899$262,500$149 more single-family homes · less walkable
Albany, NY 12210 72%974$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable · older homes
Richmond, VA 23219 71%958$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller · younger residents
Providence, RI 02903 70%1,106$64,476$408,900$475 pricier homes ($149K more)
Hartford, CT 06103 70%1,046$71,677$275,000$256 smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48226 70%533$64,860$324,500$492 pricier homes ($64K more) · more renters
Kansas City, MO 64108 70%413$80,551$291,300$282 pricier homes ($31K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Wichita, KS 67202 70%548$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($147K more) · smaller · more renters
Jacksonville, FL 32204 69%1,185$65,063$375,000$246 pricier homes ($115K more) · older residents · more single-family 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.