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 Saint Paul, MN 55102

Saint Paul: median income $76,406, home value $292,200, $225/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63104 93%462$68,764$268,900$161 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14216 92%722$69,629$294,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 92%737$72,920$317,600$235 pricier homes ($25K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15224 90%736$66,993$246,400$205 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45206 86%597$62,648$271,700$213 smaller
Forest Park, IL 60130 86%340$77,221$304,700$244 7 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40204 85%600$71,116$329,000$220 pricier homes ($37K more) · more single-family homes
Lakewood, OH 44107 85%617$68,970$262,200$214 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · less walkable
Buffalo, NY 14222 83%721$81,652$407,600$217 pricier homes ($115K more) · younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 83%735$93,231$293,300$271 younger residents
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 83%736$67,345$252,100$189 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40206 82%600$75,798$273,900$200 more single-family homes · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64111 81%413$61,729$286,700$219 younger residents · more renters
Memphis, TN 38104 80%697$58,117$317,200$167 pricier homes ($25K more)
Cleveland, OH 44113 80%622$71,941$299,400$252 younger residents · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63110 80%461$81,655$339,900$208 pricier homes ($48K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Northampton, MA 01060 79%1,038$76,848$453,400$344 pricier homes ($161K more)
Bethlehem, PA 18018 79%945$75,417$250,900$195 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · newer homes
Baltimore, MD 21211 79%927$82,828$284,500$219 6 min longer commute · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Albany, NY 12208 78%974$70,413$264,700$207 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 78%738$63,086$321,100$226 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Covington, KY 41011 78%599$69,970$304,200$204 more single-family homes · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15202 77%729$68,287$215,700$153 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more single-family homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15211 77%734$79,758$219,900$206 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43205 77%621$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · younger residents

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.