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 35218

Birmingham: median income $30,739, home value $92,600, $58/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38106 89%210$30,232$71,800$47 larger
Kansas City, MO 64128 89%573$36,088$84,600$71 larger
Louisville, KY 40211 88%333$31,749$100,400$83 larger
Louisville, KY 40212 82%334$35,753$87,600$80 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64127 81%574$33,111$91,200$94 larger
Memphis, TN 38114 80%208$34,206$82,000$90 larger
Louisville, KY 40210 80%332$35,347$98,700$99 larger · 6 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63133 80%405$39,293$65,100$82 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Wichita, KS 67214 80%653$35,192$76,200$84 larger · younger residents
Mckeesport, PA 15132 78%611$35,397$73,900$78 larger · more homeowners
Memphis, TN 38108 78%210$36,257$71,200$72 larger · less walkable
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 77%398$27,437$60,000$49 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63120 77%404$35,176$53,500$44 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Anderson, IN 46016 75%460$36,029$78,500$46 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Gary, IN 46402 75%560$33,529$85,400$60 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39213 74%209$29,541$75,900$39 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78408 74%740$41,045$88,400$93 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38107 73%213$35,265$152,000$83 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Toledo, OH 43609 73%590$42,313$65,500$73 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45404 73%460$38,874$86,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, NY 14611 72%833$31,376$82,400$88 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Mansfield, OH 44902 72%556$31,343$62,300$56 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45403 72%458$38,323$87,500$109 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dayton, OH 45417 72%456$36,945$75,100$84 larger · less walkable
Peoria, IL 61603 72%519$41,618$77,500$58 larger · younger residents · more homeowners

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.