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 35209

Birmingham: median income $71,439, home value $504,600, $311/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43220 93%500$74,298$473,500$241 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Corvallis, OR 97330 93%2,082$70,742$526,800$320 more single-family homes
Charlottesville, VA 22903 91%563$69,340$526,200$304 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27609 91%493$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37405 91%140$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Missoula, MT 59802 91%1,696$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Durham, NC 27705 89%480$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · newer homes
Durham, NC 27707 88%479$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37919 88%233$72,645$526,800$258 more single-family homes
Fort Worth, TX 76107 88%614$79,990$431,200$280 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 5 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78209 88%739$86,514$497,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Boise, ID 83706 86%1,724$82,893$537,700$364 pricier homes ($33K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85016 86%1,450$87,850$564,900$363 pricier homes ($60K more)
Loma Linda, CA 92354 86%1,743$83,847$564,400$356 pricier homes ($60K more)
Madison, WI 53704 85%681$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Hopkins, MN 55343 85%867$83,143$381,500$212 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85014 85%1,451$66,731$476,100$298 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Tempe, AZ 85282 85%1,445$79,036$412,000$279 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28205 84%364$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30341 84%148$86,313$463,100$287 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 8 min longer commute
Indianapolis, IN 46240 84%447$75,156$348,000$207 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller
Missoula, MT 59801 84%1,696$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more walkable
Dallas, TX 75238 84%574$82,019$568,700$333 pricier homes ($64K more) · 9 min longer commute
Tempe, AZ 85283 84%1,445$84,568$442,800$298 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Corvallis, OR 97333 84%2,082$65,191$511,100$351 newer homes

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.