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 Birmingham, AL 35203

Birmingham: median income $47,434, home value $334,000, $274/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buffalo, NY 14202 80%776$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($145K more) · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12305 78%947$53,326$217,500$213 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · more renters
Buffalo, NY 14201 76%777$40,512$337,600$194 larger
Spokane, WA 99204 75%1,862$58,277$397,700$199 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Spokane, WA 99201 72%1,863$41,171$312,600$207 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Albany, NY 12210 69%948$55,843$228,100$142 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Buffalo, NY 14209 68%778$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45206 67%408$62,648$271,700$213 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63101 66%401$66,678$223,200$181 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Wichita, KS 67202 64%657$58,234$407,100$275 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · more renters
Saint Paul, MN 55101 63%858$64,863$260,400$210 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68102 63%732$64,111$389,400$329 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · more renters
New Haven, CT 06519 62%930$49,619$316,700$181 larger · 8 min longer commute
Norfolk, VA 23517 62%637$67,375$386,600$214 pricier homes ($53K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43203 62%494$47,572$319,300$169 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Dallas, TX 75246 62%578$53,555$447,800$256 pricier homes ($114K more) · smaller · older residents
Richmond, VA 23219 61%595$57,507$380,700$361 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · more renters
New Orleans, LA 70113 61%314$39,333$305,800$141 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32204 60%373$65,063$375,000$246 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Hartford, CT 06105 59%957$41,937$402,300$157 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Fall River, MA 02723 58%1,025$47,633$357,800$244 larger · 11 min longer commute
Rochester, NY 14607 57%831$59,787$350,100$171 larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40202 57%332$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · more renters
Lafayette, IN 47901 57%477$47,206$256,500$144 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63108 57%403$55,147$372,200$213 pricier homes ($38K 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.