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 35228

Birmingham: median income $50,815, home value $93,700, $61/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Louis, MO 63135 88%412$52,328$107,400$92 larger
Jackson, MS 39212 86%212$50,722$112,900$67 larger · newer homes
Blackwell, OK 74631 86%630$53,964$86,500$62 smaller · more homeowners · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48223 85%649$44,512$99,500$88 larger
San Antonio, TX 78225 85%740$46,955$119,600$90 pricier homes ($26K more)
Gary, IN 46408 84%559$47,453$102,600$86 larger · less walkable
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 84%397$42,111$68,700$46 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Glassport, PA 15045 83%613$47,803$82,700$83 smaller · older homes
Monessen, PA 15062 83%604$52,889$95,900$65 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
Greenville, MS 38703 83%237$44,291$85,700$64 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 83%572$45,923$103,600$82 more apartments and townhomes
Dayton, OH 45416 83%462$46,174$81,100$92 smaller
Kennett, MO 63857 83%262$55,188$115,100$95 Very close on everything we compare
Frederick, OK 73542 83%696$49,734$96,300$81 smaller · less walkable
Marion, IN 46953 82%494$46,288$89,200$72 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lawrenceville, IL 62439 82%367$53,622$100,600$82 more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63137 82%409$43,422$82,900$93 larger
Vandergrift, PA 15690 81%641$55,457$111,800$90 older homes
Gary, IN 46404 81%563$42,256$95,200$92 larger · less walkable
Beaumont, TX 77701 81%483$49,181$84,000$91 Very close on everything we compare
Corpus Christi, TX 78416 81%739$43,198$94,600$93 Very close on everything we compare
Muncie, IN 47302 80%471$47,837$76,800$93 larger · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48217 80%643$44,447$65,500$56 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · younger residents
Flint, MI 48503 80%683$44,411$83,800$65 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Carmel, IL 62863 80%346$55,916$105,500$72 more homeowners · less walkable

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.