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 55116

Saint Paul: median income $81,141, home value $418,200, $260/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53226 93%286$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($83K less)
San Antonio, TX 78209 93%1,105$86,514$497,000$266 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43209 92%624$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Saint Louis, MO 63132 90%454$87,385$417,000$270 smaller
Portland, ME 04103 89%1,131$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($41K more)
Lexington, KY 40502 89%655$76,948$517,900$253 pricier homes ($100K more)
Louisville, KY 40206 88%600$75,798$273,900$200 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Columbus, OH 43214 88%616$94,183$400,400$290 more single-family homes
South Portland, ME 04106 86%1,133$86,188$438,800$367 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43220 86%614$74,298$473,500$241 pricier homes ($55K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Albany, NY 12203 84%973$83,147$279,500$213 cheaper homes ($139K less) · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74105 84%627$69,547$337,100$210 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Denver, CO 80224 84%699$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($186K more) · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35222 83%858$84,066$399,800$251 smaller · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40222 83%602$82,511$363,000$193 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Rocky River, OH 44116 83%617$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Beachwood, OH 44122 83%633$101,230$328,800$202 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45227 83%601$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($119K less) · younger residents
Fort Worth, TX 76107 83%871$79,990$431,200$280 newer homes
Houston, TX 77096 83%1,061$82,852$432,600$214 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Denver, CO 80222 83%701$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($205K more)
Montpelier, VT 05602 82%1,012$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32803 82%1,303$107,592$455,600$334 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($37K more)
Covington, KY 41011 82%600$69,970$304,200$204 cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents
Madison, WI 53704 82%227$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · younger residents

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.