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 55117

Saint Paul: median income $70,771, home value $280,500, $178/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Omaha, NE 68134 93%296$66,989$222,000$165 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18103 92%942$72,895$272,700$193 older residents
Harrisburg, PA 17109 91%887$71,833$215,900$163 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23601 90%1,023$71,279$243,800$204 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Wyoming, MI 49519 90%395$73,762$238,700$189 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53220 90%290$69,319$229,300$213 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · older residents
La Crosse, WI 54601 90%124$61,639$235,100$178 cheaper homes ($45K less)
West Haven, CT 06516 89%1,044$74,382$291,700$246 Very close on everything we compare
York, PA 17403 89%903$75,384$220,500$147 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents
Bethlehem, PA 18015 89%946$60,800$281,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23513 89%1,040$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Hampton, VA 23669 89%1,029$71,222$260,400$187 more single-family homes
Jacksonville, FL 32217 89%1,195$73,832$325,100$189 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 89%399$70,120$281,600$187 less walkable · newer homes
Irving, TX 75062 89%865$72,704$273,600$199 more renters
Meriden, CT 06450 88%1,046$71,250$242,600$211 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Whitehall, PA 18052 88%938$75,665$262,900$201 smaller · older residents
Chesapeake, VA 23325 88%1,043$69,909$272,000$235 smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 88%392$70,119$243,500$200 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Waukesha, WI 53186 88%279$74,588$301,100$224 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68505 88%339$75,980$232,000$162 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Bristol, CT 06010 87%1,036$79,314$277,900$229 older residents · less walkable
Trenton, NJ 08638 87%986$66,875$245,100$257 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Henrico, VA 23228 87%965$70,260$283,500$235 less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23518 87%1,040$77,594$300,700$238 smaller · older 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.