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 35242

Birmingham: median income $117,047, home value $477,700, $198/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Peachtree City, GA 30269 95%124$113,807$481,500$238 Very close on everything we compare
Mason, OH 45040 95%432$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 94%622$124,189$420,000$231 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40245 94%345$122,948$445,300$182 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Raleigh, NC 27614 92%491$128,834$577,400$231 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller
Fort Mill, SC 29708 92%346$132,018$515,200$226 pricier homes ($38K more)
Canton, MI 48188 92%640$122,781$384,700$192 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Raleigh, NC 27613 91%487$123,966$520,600$249 pricier homes ($43K more)
Lutz, FL 33558 91%439$116,090$520,500$239 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Collierville, TN 38017 91%205$138,677$495,200$180 Very close on everything we compare
Plano, TX 75025 91%580$143,260$486,100$206 higher income ($26K more)
Midlothian, VA 23114 90%583$112,738$409,100$220 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Hillsborough, NC 27278 90%471$105,887$414,100$235 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Huntersville, NC 28078 90%361$120,831$473,900$221 Very close on everything we compare
Mooresville, NC 28117 90%365$112,976$615,200$257 pricier homes ($138K more)
Duluth, GA 30097 89%154$124,890$625,100$217 pricier homes ($147K more) · 7 min longer commute
Noblesville, IN 46062 89%463$120,100$382,500$175 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents
Waunakee, WI 53597 89%693$117,000$493,200$243 smaller
Edmond, OK 73034 89%633$109,700$393,300$183 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 89%1,080$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Downingtown, PA 19335 88%761$143,249$494,100$234 higher income ($26K more)
Yorktown, VA 23693 88%633$124,433$488,400$225 smaller
Matthews, NC 28105 88%363$108,190$430,800$234 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dayton, OH 45458 88%453$110,150$362,700$175 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Boerne, TX 78006 88%744$116,156$543,900$229 pricier homes ($66K 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.