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 55112

Saint Paul: median income $93,838, home value $358,500, $200/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Allentown, PA 18104 95%945$94,601$336,400$195 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53188 95%283$92,409$348,600$237 Very close on everything we compare
Newark, DE 19711 94%962$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($40K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 94%1,051$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($60K more)
Lombard, IL 60148 93%341$100,616$344,100$252 Very close on everything we compare
Lenexa, KS 66215 93%431$88,232$338,800$189 smaller
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 92%888$99,077$284,500$199 cheaper homes ($74K less)
West Des Moines, IA 50265 92%243$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Richland, WA 99354 92%1,258$91,933$392,600$221 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 91%1,058$102,796$416,700$262 pricier homes ($58K more)
Columbus, OH 43230 91%629$91,424$306,500$206 cheaper homes ($52K less) · newer homes
Urbandale, IA 50322 91%240$92,085$276,200$202 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Overland Park, KS 66212 91%430$81,477$304,800$212 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 90%1,055$100,027$337,300$242 smaller · older residents
Hamden, CT 06514 90%1,048$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Bethlehem, PA 18017 90%949$91,173$336,100$207 older residents
San Antonio, TX 78232 90%1,109$85,273$362,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80918 90%731$87,685$442,200$208 pricier homes ($84K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 89%1,058$93,838$336,900$234 Very close on everything we compare
Grandville, MI 49418 89%399$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 89%332$94,336$317,900$244 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169 89%329$90,774$306,300$241 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min longer commute
Plano, TX 75075 89%854$98,365$428,000$219 pricier homes ($70K more)
Hamden, CT 06518 88%1,048$106,692$325,300$212 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · younger residents
Latham, NY 12110 88%978$105,024$340,100$264 smaller

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.