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 55109

Saint Paul: median income $86,776, home value $315,600, $196/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spokane, WA 99206 94%1,165$81,764$404,100$206 pricier homes ($89K more)
Albuquerque, NM 87112 92%986$73,937$281,400$209 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Newark, DE 19713 91%956$76,493$292,600$215 less walkable
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 91%1,049$93,838$336,900$234 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23518 91%1,037$77,594$300,700$238 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, IL 60123 91%313$87,693$261,000$210 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min longer commute
Glendale, AZ 85306 91%1,286$84,779$392,500$257 pricier homes ($77K more)
West Palm Beach, FL 33406 90%1,458$77,075$397,800$259 pricier homes ($82K more)
Waukesha, WI 53188 90%274$92,409$348,600$237 pricier homes ($33K more)
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 90%208$72,831$269,500$173 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Aurora, IL 60506 90%325$79,517$253,700$211 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Salem, OR 97303 90%1,457$84,871$433,900$263 pricier homes ($118K more)
Warwick, RI 02886 89%1,105$92,047$366,400$285 pricier homes ($51K more)
Blackwood, NJ 08012 89%984$95,451$289,700$225 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute
Harrisburg, PA 17111 89%886$86,385$235,500$165 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Bethlehem, PA 18017 89%941$91,173$336,100$207 older residents
Whitehall, PA 18052 89%935$75,665$262,900$201 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Allentown, PA 18103 89%939$72,895$272,700$193 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes
Allentown, PA 18104 89%936$94,601$336,400$195 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 89%1,046$79,085$346,600$250 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32217 89%1,194$73,832$325,100$189 smaller
Addison, IL 60101 89%330$90,800$338,800$233 less walkable
Shawnee, KS 66203 89%422$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80915 89%735$72,352$350,600$199 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Las Vegas, NV 89120 89%1,306$74,688$401,800$221 pricier homes ($86K more)

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.