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.

Reset

Towns most like Saint Louis, MO 63117

Saint Louis: median income $90,921, home value $348,700, $244/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45226 91%319$97,558$408,400$273 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55108 89%463$86,308$375,600$233 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53213 88%329$101,688$340,100$258 larger
Rochester, NY 14610 87%736$85,961$258,500$212 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35222 87%405$84,066$399,800$251 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15217 86%568$95,668$455,100$281 pricier homes ($106K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55409 86%461$98,305$378,600$267 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50312 85%270$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53226 83%328$93,132$335,600$245 larger · newer homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15201 82%567$93,231$293,300$271 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40204 82%251$71,116$329,000$220 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45209 82%320$93,420$400,700$289 pricier homes ($52K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Omaha, NE 68132 82%351$68,221$333,900$193 larger
Saint Paul, MN 55105 81%459$107,248$470,100$273 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43209 80%406$89,713$392,500$256 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43214 80%403$94,183$400,400$290 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45213 80%320$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($63K less)
West Hartford, CT 06119 78%952$99,688$378,400$281 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Columbia, SC 29205 76%610$64,231$349,700$234 lower income ($27K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45227 76%322$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55116 76%458$81,141$418,200$260 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55426 76%464$99,347$364,600$237 larger · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23221 75%702$99,816$582,000$405 pricier homes ($233K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Madison, WI 53705 75%310$88,549$475,400$340 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · newer homes
Portland, ME 04102 74%1,096$82,751$503,500$388 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.