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 Louis, MO 63112

Saint Louis: median income $45,542, home value $212,700, $135/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milwaukee, WI 53212 96%329$47,298$216,300$145 larger
Detroit, MI 48202 95%457$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Buffalo, NY 14213 92%664$53,870$211,200$116 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53208 91%326$52,690$204,500$125 larger
Buffalo, NY 14214 89%667$58,228$240,800$156 pricier homes ($28K more)
Cleveland, OH 44106 89%499$43,170$255,700$144 pricier homes ($43K more) · more renters
Detroit, MI 48216 88%455$44,335$242,600$106 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Duluth, MN 55805 84%570$43,100$189,400$188 smaller · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13203 82%798$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79902 82%1,029$50,873$238,500$163 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · newer homes
Albany, NY 12206 81%907$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Columbus, OH 43205 81%401$60,181$317,300$160 pricier homes ($105K more)
Rochester, NY 14620 80%730$61,783$205,000$179 Very close on everything we compare
Cincinnati, OH 45223 80%310$49,312$210,100$176 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Duluth, MN 55806 80%568$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Albany, NY 12202 79%907$52,868$166,000$118 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Memphis, TN 38104 79%244$58,117$317,200$167 pricier homes ($105K more)
Syracuse, NY 13210 78%798$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14201 78%663$40,512$337,600$194 pricier homes ($125K more) · more renters
Scranton, PA 18510 78%796$53,235$181,600$117 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39202 78%439$38,554$222,100$135 smaller · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40208 78%246$39,560$188,900$136 younger residents
Schenectady, NY 12308 77%902$63,434$211,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 77%319$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Milwaukee, WI 53210 77%328$48,217$174,400$100 cheaper homes ($38K 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.