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 55108

Saint Paul: median income $86,308, home value $375,600, $233/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53226 89%288$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63117 89%463$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63144 89%463$104,438$304,700$224 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Cincinnati, OH 45209 88%602$93,420$400,700$289 pricier homes ($25K more)
Madison, WI 53705 87%227$88,549$475,400$340 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35222 86%862$84,066$399,800$251 smaller
Louisville, KY 40206 86%604$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63132 86%459$87,385$417,000$270 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents
Omaha, NE 68132 86%293$68,221$333,900$193 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Columbus, OH 43209 85%626$89,713$392,500$256 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53213 85%290$101,688$340,100$258 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63110 85%465$81,655$339,900$208 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Albany, NY 12203 84%973$83,147$279,500$213 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 84%739$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 83%742$95,668$455,100$281 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · older homes
Cincinnati, OH 45226 83%604$97,558$408,400$273 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more homeowners
West Hartford, CT 06119 82%1,048$99,688$378,400$281 older homes
Columbia, SC 29205 82%997$64,231$349,700$234 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Louisville, KY 40204 82%604$71,116$329,000$220 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78209 82%1,109$86,514$497,000$266 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · newer homes
Norfolk, VA 23508 81%1,040$74,885$408,100$224 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Orlando, FL 32803 81%1,307$107,592$455,600$334 pricier homes ($80K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45227 81%604$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Portland, ME 04103 80%1,131$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15206 80%741$72,920$317,600$235 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older 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.