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 55122

Saint Paul: median income $96,823, home value $356,600, $200/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 94%884$99,077$284,500$199 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 93%987$101,349$432,400$265 pricier homes ($76K more)
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 93%1,054$100,027$337,300$242 smaller
Columbus, OH 43230 93%621$91,424$306,500$206 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Westerville, OH 43081 92%616$92,422$329,800$209 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Carol Stream, IL 60188 92%323$103,628$337,400$236 6 min longer commute
Royersford, PA 19468 91%953$108,534$402,800$246 pricier homes ($46K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 91%1,051$102,796$416,700$262 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 91%1,043$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Perrysburg, OH 43551 91%534$95,846$311,100$198 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Rochester, MI 48307 91%525$106,576$355,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Waukesha, WI 53188 91%275$92,409$348,600$237 Very close on everything we compare
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 91%227$97,051$379,500$224 newer homes
Newark, DE 19702 90%962$92,446$346,100$209 larger
Newark, DE 19711 90%958$95,403$398,900$217 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Grafton, WI 53024 90%280$92,390$366,300$244 smaller
Oak Creek, WI 53154 90%296$96,555$331,700$230 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64151 90%392$92,876$323,000$166 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more single-family homes
Palmyra, PA 17078 89%900$93,135$305,700$190 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Hatfield, PA 19440 89%962$99,408$438,500$258 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Williamsburg, VA 23185 89%1,001$105,431$429,500$220 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Henrico, VA 23238 89%960$101,523$420,500$241 pricier homes ($64K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23320 89%1,045$84,305$346,400$219 larger
Greensboro, NC 27410 89%921$85,291$338,600$187 larger
Louisville, KY 40241 89%597$94,078$373,900$172 Very close on everything we compare

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.