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 55118

Saint Paul: median income $87,340, home value $350,600, $205/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethlehem, PA 18017 96%942$91,173$336,100$207 Very close on everything we compare
Allentown, PA 18104 96%938$94,601$336,400$195 larger
Waukesha, WI 53188 95%273$92,409$348,600$237 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 93%1,049$100,027$337,300$242 Very close on everything we compare
Hamden, CT 06514 92%1,043$88,900$270,800$217 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32217 92%1,189$73,832$325,100$189 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Warwick, RI 02886 91%1,108$92,047$366,400$285 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 91%1,041$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Lenexa, KS 66215 91%419$88,232$338,800$189 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, OR 97302 91%1,457$85,833$446,400$268 pricier homes ($96K more)
Rensselaer, NY 12144 90%977$90,738$249,700$213 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Souderton, PA 18964 90%956$96,143$356,100$253 smaller
Pikesville, MD 21208 90%919$90,131$337,900$194 6 min longer commute
Greendale, WI 53129 90%288$95,012$311,800$231 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Westmont, IL 60559 90%336$90,963$365,300$280 Very close on everything we compare
Overland Park, KS 66212 90%418$81,477$304,800$212 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Metairie, LA 70005 90%1,042$89,194$430,200$249 pricier homes ($80K more)
Plano, TX 75075 90%843$98,365$428,000$219 pricier homes ($77K more)
Tucson, AZ 85715 90%1,291$85,069$370,000$219 smaller · older residents
Emmaus, PA 18049 89%941$93,694$315,700$208 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older homes
Louisville, KY 40220 89%602$78,434$264,200$160 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45255 89%604$92,035$303,800$188 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dayton, OH 45440 89%584$82,383$267,900$158 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Urbandale, IA 50322 89%228$92,085$276,200$202 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 89%321$94,336$317,900$244 cheaper homes ($33K less)

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.