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 63132

Saint Louis: median income $87,385, home value $417,000, $270/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43209 96%408$89,713$392,500$256 larger
Birmingham, AL 35222 95%409$84,066$399,800$251 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53226 95%326$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Columbus, OH 43214 94%404$94,183$400,400$290 larger
Minneapolis, MN 55426 91%461$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Portland, ME 04103 90%1,097$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Lexington, KY 40502 90%322$76,948$517,900$253 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55116 90%454$81,141$418,200$260 larger
Montpelier, VT 05602 89%996$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Rocky River, OH 44116 89%490$93,799$349,300$246 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more homeowners
Portland, OR 97218 89%1,706$88,924$496,600$316 pricier homes ($80K more)
Columbia, SC 29206 88%614$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Orlando, FL 32803 87%870$107,592$455,600$334 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Hamden, CT 06517 86%941$104,550$339,400$255 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32806 86%872$89,046$441,300$288 larger · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45227 86%324$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55108 86%459$86,308$375,600$233 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
South Portland, ME 04106 85%1,097$86,188$438,800$367 larger
Metairie, LA 70005 85%599$89,194$430,200$249 larger · older residents
Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034 84%861$104,663$428,600$403 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburgh, PA 15215 84%571$99,071$311,300$256 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners
Louisville, KY 40207 84%256$101,898$421,200$202 larger · more homeowners
Beachwood, OH 44122 84%506$101,230$328,800$202 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55113 84%461$86,792$350,200$207 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75218 84%536$107,366$521,000$329 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger

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.