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 55105

Saint Paul: median income $107,248, home value $470,100, $273/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53213 88%288$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84105 86%988$99,562$686,100$374 pricier homes ($216K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 85%740$95,668$455,100$281 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Cincinnati, OH 45208 83%600$137,600$547,200$299 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49506 81%400$118,131$375,000$270 cheaper homes ($95K less) · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63117 81%459$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63130 80%457$85,823$316,100$202 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45226 79%601$97,558$408,400$273 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40205 78%603$99,966$375,300$208 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43214 78%616$94,183$400,400$290 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15228 77%736$123,681$383,700$263 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97213 77%1,425$97,068$632,100$297 pricier homes ($162K more) · older residents
Portland, OR 97215 76%1,425$116,264$684,200$334 pricier homes ($214K more) · smaller · older residents
Portland, OR 97217 76%1,428$100,361$578,700$311 pricier homes ($109K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40207 75%602$101,898$421,200$202 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63119 75%462$106,183$351,100$241 cheaper homes ($119K less) · older residents · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63144 74%460$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, OR 97211 74%1,427$112,586$634,000$324 pricier homes ($164K more) · older residents
Collingswood, NJ 08108 73%984$108,151$395,300$332 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · older residents
Richmond, VA 23221 73%958$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($112K more) · smaller · more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46220 73%502$108,050$358,500$172 cheaper homes ($112K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53217 73%289$133,021$449,100$277 higher income ($26K more) · older residents · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23226 72%956$126,655$530,900$390 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43209 72%624$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents · newer homes
Des Moines, IA 50312 72%233$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · older 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.