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 55120

Saint Paul: median income $116,346, home value $515,600, $249/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Williston, VT 05495 86%983$107,054$470,300$288 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more homeowners
Essex Junction, VT 05452 84%983$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22911 84%893$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45249 84%594$105,804$495,000$214 larger
Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152 83%917$121,350$495,700$236 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Lebanon, NH 03766 81%1,035$100,881$395,600$270 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Trenton, NJ 08628 81%983$108,158$369,500$223 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Getzville, NY 14068 81%726$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35243 81%860$99,645$538,400$233 larger
Austin, TX 78736 81%1,043$93,805$573,100$293 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Eugene, OR 97408 81%1,466$104,945$539,600$327 larger
Liberty Lake, WA 99019 81%1,155$120,053$617,800$267 pricier homes ($102K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Henrico, VA 23238 80%959$101,523$420,500$241 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Indianapolis, IN 46280 80%494$91,152$324,400$217 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($191K less) · more single-family homes
Nashua, NH 03063 79%1,085$107,630$391,400$291 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
South Burlington, VT 05403 79%979$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more walkable
Columbia, MD 21046 79%922$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more walkable
East Greenbush, NY 12061 78%982$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($172K less) · larger · more homeowners
Maitland, FL 32751 78%1,295$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Middleton, WI 53562 78%218$101,381$532,200$270 larger
Waunakee, WI 53597 78%217$117,000$493,200$243 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Madison, WI 53717 78%219$98,180$415,100$240 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more walkable
Itasca, IL 60143 78%326$114,420$398,500$231 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Leawood, KS 66211 78%415$106,486$633,300$225 pricier homes ($118K more)
Anchorage, AK 99517 78%2,513$103,880$402,100$256 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · older 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.