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 55125

Saint Paul: median income $119,260, home value $416,100, $192/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 96%871$113,720$372,900$192 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Dayton, OH 45458 95%579$110,150$362,700$175 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Williamsburg, VA 23185 93%993$105,431$429,500$220 Very close on everything we compare
Roswell, GA 30076 93%881$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($74K more)
Hummelstown, PA 17036 92%884$115,533$349,700$176 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Hilliard, OH 43026 92%602$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Gurnee, IL 60031 92%306$111,034$335,100$199 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 6 min longer commute
Marlton, NJ 08053 91%981$118,670$397,600$259 Very close on everything we compare
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 91%712$124,189$420,000$231 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenixville, PA 19460 91%944$124,050$455,900$251 pricier homes ($40K more)
Raleigh, NC 27615 91%975$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($63K more)
Matthews, NC 28105 91%935$108,190$430,800$234 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35244 91%863$113,450$412,000$176 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, MI 48188 91%507$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 90%979$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Glen Allen, VA 23060 90%942$104,468$409,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40241 90%594$94,078$373,900$172 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($42K less)
Mason, OH 45040 90%586$133,240$440,000$209 Very close on everything we compare
West Chester, OH 45069 90%583$114,631$345,000$192 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Canton, MI 48187 90%506$120,321$364,200$196 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older homes
Rochester, MI 48307 90%514$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Waunakee, WI 53597 90%211$117,000$493,200$243 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Clifton Park, NY 12065 89%962$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Smyrna, GA 30082 89%885$120,372$438,700$200 smaller · 8 min longer commute
Fishers, IN 46038 89%492$106,886$333,200$170 cheaper homes ($83K 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.