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 35222

Birmingham: median income $84,066, home value $399,800, $251/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63132 95%409$87,385$417,000$270 larger
Columbus, OH 43209 90%492$89,713$392,500$256 larger
Milwaukee, WI 53226 90%662$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68132 89%736$68,221$333,900$193 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45227 87%411$71,646$298,800$224 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55426 87%865$99,347$364,600$237 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63117 87%405$90,921$348,700$244 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older homes
Columbia, SC 29206 86%336$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55108 86%862$86,308$375,600$233 larger
Columbus, OH 43214 85%497$94,183$400,400$290 larger · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45226 85%408$97,558$408,400$273 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68124 85%736$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Lexington, KY 40502 84%336$76,948$517,900$253 pricier homes ($118K more) · larger · older residents
Des Moines, IA 50312 84%673$92,242$291,900$221 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · older homes
Portland, OR 97218 84%2,061$88,924$496,600$316 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Portland, ME 04103 83%1,130$89,796$459,500$356 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Montpelier, VT 05602 83%1,062$81,320$360,000$259 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Middlebury, VT 05753 83%1,027$91,659$416,900$258 more homeowners · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29205 83%333$64,231$349,700$234 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55116 83%858$81,141$418,200$260 larger · older residents
Mission, KS 66202 83%581$75,129$284,900$229 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 83%630$81,226$321,600$199 cheaper homes ($78K less) · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45213 82%412$76,356$286,100$212 cheaper homes ($114K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66204 82%580$75,889$269,400$249 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger
Little Rock, AR 72207 82%331$96,343$406,600$222 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.