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 55115

Saint Paul: median income $124,234, home value $488,400, $218/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenmont, NY 12077 95%967$118,257$401,700$243 cheaper homes ($87K less)
East Amherst, NY 14051 94%720$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Grover, MO 63040 94%465$133,220$426,600$188 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Port Matilda, PA 16870 93%806$121,528$411,100$235 cheaper homes ($77K less)
East Lyme, CT 06333 92%1,070$129,083$439,000$273 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472 91%776$129,655$375,700$216 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older homes
Lake Orion, MI 48360 91%507$140,865$387,500$181 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Unionville, CT 06085 90%1,029$141,023$413,600$263 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Manlius, NY 13104 90%853$127,933$337,100$212 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 90%865$119,250$481,600$204 larger
Rochester, MI 48309 90%513$121,007$424,600$196 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68118 90%309$133,281$390,700$158 cheaper homes ($98K less)
San Antonio, TX 78248 90%1,112$130,552$479,500$207 larger · more walkable
Longwood, FL 32779 89%1,294$121,826$480,200$249 larger
Dexter, MI 48130 89%488$129,254$480,500$249 larger
Saline, MI 48176 89%499$114,206$408,300$229 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Farmington, MI 48331 89%507$127,633$410,000$182 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Delafield, WI 53018 89%265$124,595$521,400$284 pricier homes ($33K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 89%743$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger
Center Valley, PA 18034 88%939$153,200$475,900$235 higher income ($29K more)
Crozet, VA 22932 88%876$115,545$548,500$269 pricier homes ($60K more) · newer homes
Lexington, KY 40513 88%651$128,013$497,600$201 Very close on everything we compare
Akron, OH 44321 88%632$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Waunakee, WI 53597 88%217$117,000$493,200$243 larger
Stilwell, KS 66085 88%443$152,500$538,300$241 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($50K more) · 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.