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 Saint Paul, MN 55106

Saint Paul: median income $70,187, home value $241,800, $176/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spokane, WA 99207 92%1,171$60,452$274,100$185 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Norfolk, VA 23513 91%1,037$68,380$234,000$200 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53219 91%286$70,388$203,900$211 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76110 91%878$69,790$258,000$231 smaller
Joliet, IL 60435 90%342$76,369$235,500$184 older residents
Aurora, IL 60505 90%326$73,284$205,100$211 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45238 89%592$66,277$183,900$149 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents
Racine, WI 53403 89%305$59,820$176,000$188 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32211 88%1,186$57,021$229,700$179 smaller · newer homes
Wyoming, MI 49509 88%392$65,132$202,100$208 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18103 87%939$72,895$272,700$193 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43204 87%614$59,266$185,800$162 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46219 87%506$60,803$184,900$118 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 87%389$70,119$243,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Des Moines, IA 50315 87%238$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Harrisburg, PA 17109 86%884$71,833$215,900$163 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Richmond, VA 23222 86%956$61,345$274,800$218 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49507 86%394$61,461$199,300$188 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Oshkosh, WI 54901 86%231$61,794$177,700$163 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
York, PA 17403 85%900$75,384$220,500$147 older residents
Newport News, VA 23601 85%1,020$71,279$243,800$204 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Hampton, VA 23669 85%1,026$71,222$260,400$187 newer homes
Aurora, IL 60506 85%324$79,517$253,700$211 newer homes
Omaha, NE 68104 85%294$60,549$168,100$158 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68134 85%296$66,989$222,000$165 smaller · newer 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.