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 Louis, MO 63103

Saint Louis: median income $40,943, home value $202,900, $124/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harrisburg, PA 17102 81%719$54,573$193,700$118 more homeowners
Baltimore, MD 21201 78%731$45,640$275,300$178 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · newer homes
Lafayette, IN 47901 77%216$47,206$256,500$144 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Schenectady, NY 12305 75%898$53,326$217,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, NY 12210 74%905$55,843$228,100$142 pricier homes ($25K more) · less walkable
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 72%559$34,897$214,800$211 more single-family homes · newer homes
Cleveland, OH 44106 71%496$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Albany, NY 12206 70%904$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48202 70%455$43,627$186,500$123 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68131 70%354$48,925$227,200$161 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Albany, NY 12202 69%904$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Detroit, MI 48207 69%457$47,831$211,600$123 larger · older residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14201 67%661$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($135K more) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Philadelphia, PA 19104 67%807$38,814$266,600$187 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Baltimore, MD 21202 67%732$59,377$271,800$203 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 65%796$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Wilmington, DE 19801 65%788$52,810$199,900$143 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44114 63%493$44,002$121,900$59 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53212 63%329$47,298$216,300$145 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Saint Paul, MN 55101 63%461$64,863$260,400$210 pricier homes ($58K more) · newer homes
Peoria, IL 61602 63%146$33,750$231,000$103 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
New Orleans, LA 70113 63%601$39,333$305,800$141 pricier homes ($103K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74119 63%361$56,234$251,700$125 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Hartford, CT 06105 62%948$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($199K more) · larger · less walkable
Rochester, NY 14607 61%729$59,787$350,100$171 pricier homes ($147K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute

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.