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 35243

Birmingham: median income $99,645, home value $538,400, $233/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middleton, WI 53562 91%684$101,381$532,200$270 larger · more walkable
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 90%629$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66213 90%582$117,706$465,900$180 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Cincinnati, OH 45249 89%424$105,804$495,000$214 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Raleigh, NC 27612 88%487$95,988$529,000$261 larger
Hopkins, MN 55305 88%871$104,914$451,800$234 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Austin, TX 78727 88%676$110,379$540,400$272 larger
Charlottesville, VA 22901 87%560$92,145$501,700$272 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Henrico, VA 23233 87%595$125,665$479,000$248 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Troy, MI 48084 87%659$107,098$444,200$224 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55441 87%874$101,981$470,100$214 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Lawrence, KS 66049 87%609$90,147$393,400$190 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Overland Park, KS 66223 87%578$114,855$437,500$186 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Durham, NC 27713 85%476$100,676$418,400$226 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30328 85%139$112,111$561,900$236 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dublin, OH 43016 85%501$109,972$452,000$211 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Little Rock, AR 72223 85%342$101,062$451,800$200 cheaper homes ($87K less) · newer homes
Grapevine, TX 76051 85%598$111,160$489,400$258 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
South Burlington, VT 05403 84%1,051$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more walkable
Richardson, TX 75082 84%575$110,534$492,900$200 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Austin, TX 78759 84%678$102,400$674,000$332 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Henrico, VA 23238 83%594$101,523$420,500$241 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Cary, NC 27513 83%480$121,989$519,800$258 larger
Franklin, TN 37067 83%170$111,759$756,300$313 pricier homes ($218K more) · larger · newer homes
Carrollton, TX 75010 83%586$107,317$484,800$241 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.