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 35234

Birmingham: median income $26,831, home value $114,300, $34/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 76%399$27,437$60,000$49 cheaper homes ($54K less) · less walkable
Columbus, MS 39701 67%98$32,599$117,900$37 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Jackson, MS 39203 66%214$26,569$53,000$29 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39213 66%214$29,541$75,900$39 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38106 64%213$30,232$71,800$47 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more renters
East Saint Louis, IL 62207 63%395$29,845$58,200$25 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Louis, MO 63115 61%403$30,622$75,600$29 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64128 61%575$36,088$84,600$71 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Meridian, MS 39307 60%138$30,413$91,300$34 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48211 60%644$35,725$78,900$45 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Peoria, IL 61605 60%517$26,392$47,400$34 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Weldon, NC 27890 59%558$36,875$94,800— smaller · 8 min longer commute · less walkable
Robbins, IL 60472 59%562$40,668$121,300$41 younger residents · 12 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63120 59%405$35,176$53,500$44 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · younger residents
Caruthersville, MO 63830 59%244$36,979$121,300$58 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Hayti, MO 63851 59%250$28,705$77,600$45 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Shreveport, LA 71103 59%410$27,380$75,900— cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63113 58%403$39,913$81,600$48 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Shreveport, LA 71109 58%412$32,939$93,600$37 larger · more renters · less walkable
Gary, IN 46402 57%558$33,529$85,400$60 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Topeka, KS 66607 57%621$29,797$46,400$61 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Lake Providence, LA 71254 57%258$31,433$107,100— larger · younger residents · less walkable
Farrell, PA 16121 56%633$42,595$87,800— cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39204 56%217$30,237$69,500$30 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Toledo, OH 43610 56%590$46,469$71,500$46 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older homes

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.