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 55124

Saint Paul: median income $97,727, home value $370,400, $189/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carol Stream, IL 60188 92%321$103,628$337,400$236 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 91%882$99,077$284,500$199 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Chesapeake, VA 23320 91%1,043$84,305$346,400$219 Very close on everything we compare
Woodridge, IL 60517 91%332$99,024$361,700$229 smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 90%1,049$102,796$416,700$262 pricier homes ($46K more)
Waukesha, WI 53188 90%273$92,409$348,600$237 smaller
Newark, DE 19702 89%961$92,446$346,100$209 more renters
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 89%1,049$93,838$336,900$234 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23455 89%1,041$94,069$418,000$247 pricier homes ($48K more)
Bloomingdale, IL 60108 89%322$103,392$382,000$232 smaller
Mesa, AZ 85213 89%1,261$103,969$438,900$270 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Allentown, PA 18104 88%941$94,601$336,400$195 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Royersford, PA 19468 88%951$108,534$402,800$246 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Nottingham, MD 21236 88%932$95,149$327,200$208 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Frederick, MD 21701 88%890$106,577$435,000$230 pricier homes ($65K more)
Frederick, MD 21702 88%883$106,983$426,300$223 pricier homes ($56K more) · 7 min longer commute
Salem, OR 97306 88%1,454$101,753$463,100$267 pricier homes ($93K more) · smaller
Bel Air, MD 21014 87%933$116,970$429,900$207 pricier homes ($60K more) · 6 min longer commute
Virginia Beach, VA 23464 87%1,044$92,468$355,800$230 more single-family homes
Tucker, GA 30084 87%892$81,304$360,500$204 Very close on everything we compare
Grandville, MI 49418 87%392$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Lombard, IL 60148 87%328$100,616$344,100$252 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Plano, TX 75075 87%832$98,365$428,000$219 pricier homes ($58K more) · more renters
Westminster, CO 80031 87%691$107,422$535,300$249 pricier homes ($165K more) · smaller
Norristown, PA 19403 86%960$104,071$375,100$238 older residents · 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.