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 Birmingham, AL 35204

Birmingham: median income $35,420, home value $89,300, $42/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63113 85%403$39,913$81,600$48 older residents · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 83%575$36,088$84,600$71 more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38106 82%213$30,232$71,800$47 larger · more single-family homes
Highland Park, MI 48203 80%648$38,404$76,200$70 larger
Flint, MI 48503 79%678$44,411$83,800$65 larger
Syracuse, NY 13205 78%874$38,497$99,000$73 larger
Memphis, TN 38114 78%210$34,206$82,000$90 larger
Peoria, IL 61603 78%519$41,618$77,500$58 larger · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 78%399$27,437$60,000$49 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63115 78%404$30,622$75,600$29 larger · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63120 78%405$35,176$53,500$44 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents
Braddock, PA 15104 76%612$40,104$66,800$42 11 min longer commute
Mckeesport, PA 15132 76%609$35,397$73,900$78 larger · 7 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39213 76%212$29,541$75,900$39 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40212 76%333$35,753$87,600$80 larger · older homes
Toledo, OH 43610 75%591$46,469$71,500$46 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Dayton, OH 45405 75%457$43,973$84,200$74 larger
Detroit, MI 48211 75%646$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Sharon, PA 16146 74%636$45,670$78,800$54 less walkable
Louisville, KY 40211 74%331$31,749$100,400$83 larger
Cleveland, OH 44108 74%623$34,745$67,700$67 larger · older homes
Detroit, MI 48206 74%645$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48238 74%645$33,315$64,800$46 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Pitcairn, PA 15140 73%615$36,419$59,300$35 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39209 73%214$36,344$78,400$48 larger · younger residents · less walkable

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.