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 35215

Birmingham: median income $52,793, home value $157,300, $95/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warner Robins, GA 31093 91%191$45,991$157,100$130 smaller
Warren, MI 48091 91%641$54,230$149,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, AR 72076 91%322$54,379$163,600$127 6 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78223 91%751$52,088$172,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
Baytown, TX 77520 90%555$54,278$150,700$125 older homes
Riverdale, GA 30274 89%133$52,209$174,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Valley, GA 31030 89%180$59,313$148,000$108 smaller
New Iberia, LA 70560 89%392$45,509$133,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Corsicana, TX 75110 89%577$57,370$174,100$137 5 min shorter commute
Longview, TX 75602 89%470$52,330$139,700$113 smaller
Newberry, SC 29108 88%295$53,558$150,600$141 smaller
Columbus, GA 31907 88%132$54,453$158,000$123 7 min shorter commute
Westwego, LA 70094 88%331$53,597$159,700$136 Very close on everything we compare
Abbeville, LA 70510 88%414$49,717$147,600$81 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Eunice, LA 70535 88%397$44,381$159,100$81 smaller
Shreveport, LA 71118 88%420$50,287$170,600$113 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78227 88%761$51,519$159,700$133 more walkable
Vidalia, GA 30474 87%269$55,295$154,400$117 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Tifton, GA 31794 87%240$46,056$130,100$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Radcliff, KY 40160 87%292$58,506$165,900$142 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46229 87%426$61,388$191,100$137 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 87%300$51,152$151,600$109 8 min shorter commute
Chalmette, LA 70043 87%319$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Gretna, LA 70056 87%325$59,027$230,500$137 pricier homes ($73K more)
Harvey, LA 70058 87%327$62,416$207,500$121 pricier homes ($50K more)

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.