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 55126

Saint Paul: median income $108,217, home value $384,900, $217/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westlake, OH 44145 95%617$112,200$368,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
Hummelstown, PA 17036 94%896$115,533$349,700$176 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Dayton, OH 45458 94%593$110,150$362,700$175 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, MI 48170 94%517$114,278$417,600$228 pricier homes ($33K more)
Fairport, NY 14450 93%790$109,466$308,200$221 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Pittsburgh, PA 15237 93%732$109,895$326,700$216 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Novi, MI 48375 93%515$112,545$376,900$204 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, WI 53045 93%284$123,750$457,700$241 pricier homes ($73K more)
Orchard Park, NY 14127 92%733$109,386$364,900$237 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27615 92%989$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
Louisville, KY 40223 92%611$96,607$362,500$179 Very close on everything we compare
Northville, MI 48167 91%515$124,630$452,800$232 pricier homes ($68K more)
West Bloomfield, MI 48322 91%517$113,865$389,400$169 5 min longer commute
Cromwell, CT 06416 90%1,053$110,596$325,200$252 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 90%926$125,528$477,700$252 pricier homes ($93K more)
Reisterstown, MD 21136 90%918$118,500$422,100$206 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 90%405$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($33K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Essex Junction, VT 05452 89%981$101,349$432,400$265 pricier homes ($48K more)
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 89%991$118,802$357,200$249 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Buffalo, NY 14221 89%729$101,615$329,600$239 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Allison Park, PA 15101 89%735$114,634$334,500$227 cheaper homes ($50K less) · more single-family homes
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 89%883$113,720$372,900$192 larger · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23235 89%960$96,083$356,000$221 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Longwood, FL 32779 89%1,300$121,826$480,200$249 pricier homes ($95K more)
Satellite Beach, FL 32937 89%1,355$101,184$465,600$298 pricier homes ($81K more)

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.