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 Montgomery, AL 36105

Montgomery: median income $41,486, home value $82,400, $42/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 92%482$42,111$68,700$46 smaller
Farrell, PA 16121 86%693$42,595$87,800— smaller · less walkable
Sharon, PA 16146 80%694$45,670$78,800$54 more apartments and townhomes
Johnstown, PA 15906 78%689$43,284$57,100$45 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Hickman, KY 42050 76%335$41,800$77,100$40 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Kansas City, MO 64128 76%655$36,088$84,600$71 younger residents · more renters
Huntington, WV 25702 75%476$40,708$82,900$76 younger residents · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43610 75%664$46,469$71,500$46 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Monessen, PA 15062 74%648$52,889$95,900$65 more homeowners · less walkable
Flint, MI 48503 74%752$44,411$83,800$65 larger · younger residents
Eldorado, IL 62930 74%398$52,931$93,400$63 smaller · less walkable
Tulia, TX 79088 74%906$35,804$82,800$57 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Johnstown, PA 15902 73%688$44,215$65,100$56 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Greenville, MS 38703 73%283$44,291$85,700$64 younger residents · less walkable · newer homes
Kewanee, IL 61443 73%648$52,615$79,600$69 less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63147 73%493$41,182$79,000$65 11 min longer commute
Malden, MO 63863 73%360$47,205$91,900$29 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39213 72%228$29,541$75,900$39 larger · younger residents · more renters
Dayton, OH 45416 72%529$46,174$81,100$92 smaller · younger residents
Flint, MI 48504 72%754$38,719$53,500$50 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Hollis, OK 73550 72%800$43,804$80,200$47 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Carmi, IL 62821 71%411$55,367$116,300$54 pricier homes ($34K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Oil City, PA 16301 70%727$57,596$89,800$66 larger · less walkable
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 70%528$48,750$113,400$80 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Marks, MS 38646 70%265$38,618$88,300— smaller · younger residents · 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.