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 35213

Birmingham: median income $159,824, home value $789,800, $321/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, MI 48009 89%653$153,401$697,900$377 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27608 83%487$162,188$977,400$454 pricier homes ($188K more) · older residents · more walkable
Leawood, KS 66206 81%578$174,394$672,100$289 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55439 79%861$168,693$649,800$268 cheaper homes ($140K less) · smaller · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84108 79%1,463$120,854$838,600$421 lower income ($39K less) · pricier homes ($49K more) · more walkable
Salt Lake City, UT 84109 78%1,462$145,034$731,200$343 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · more walkable
Portland, OR 97221 77%2,068$145,671$821,400$342 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · more walkable
West Hartford, CT 06107 76%952$174,844$474,700$318 cheaper homes ($315K less) · older residents · older homes
Wayne, PA 19087 75%773$171,179$748,200$364 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Minneapolis, MN 55410 75%862$146,425$620,600$323 cheaper homes ($169K less) · more walkable · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63124 75%408$193,942$988,600$376 higher income ($34K more) · pricier homes ($199K more) · older residents
West Hartford, CT 06117 74%954$171,707$472,300$271 cheaper homes ($318K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Nashville, TN 37215 74%179$155,863$1,046,500$413 pricier homes ($257K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Norwich, VT 05055 72%1,050$142,684$632,400$331 cheaper homes ($157K less) · smaller · older residents
Tampa, FL 33629 72%461$164,355$851,400$493 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45243 72%414$171,172$627,000$288 cheaper homes ($163K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Elm Grove, WI 53122 72%663$157,962$514,800$268 cheaper homes ($275K less) · smaller · older residents
Devon, PA 19333 71%771$173,107$760,700$386 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63122 71%406$136,385$474,300$272 cheaper homes ($316K less) · larger · older residents
Overland Park, KS 66207 71%579$125,153$440,500$250 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($349K less) · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53217 70%669$133,021$449,100$277 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($341K less) · larger
Malvern, PA 19355 69%767$169,417$692,300$315 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents
Richmond, VA 23226 69%590$126,655$530,900$390 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($259K less) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30327 69%136$189,250$1,136,500$399 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($347K more) · larger
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 69%652$167,143$708,300$271 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute

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.