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 36108

Montgomery: median income $33,291, home value $73,800, $57/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jackson, MS 39213 86%226$29,541$75,900$39 more renters
Jackson, MS 39209 82%227$36,344$78,400$48 larger · younger residents · more renters
Kinston, NC 28501 79%542$35,118$79,000$82 more renters · less walkable
Marlin, TX 76661 79%622$41,056$66,700$78 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Bennettsville, SC 29512 78%415$34,734$86,400$90 less walkable
Memphis, TN 38108 78%286$36,257$71,200$72 younger residents · more renters · older homes
Memphis, TN 38109 78%284$37,496$80,400$93 larger
Kansas City, MO 64128 78%653$36,088$84,600$71 more renters · older homes
Alexandria, LA 71302 78%364$34,669$110,000$56 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Belzoni, MS 39038 77%247$33,538$85,800$49 smaller · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45417 77%525$36,945$75,100$84 larger · younger residents · more renters
Flint, MI 48504 77%754$38,719$53,500$50 larger · younger residents · older homes
Greenwood, MS 38930 76%236$35,453$112,300$67 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 76%485$27,437$60,000$49 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 76%480$42,111$68,700$46 smaller · more single-family homes · older homes
Memphis, TN 38114 75%282$34,206$82,000$90 more renters · older homes
Greenville, MS 38703 75%281$44,291$85,700$64 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Burton, MI 48529 75%749$41,333$86,700$113 smaller · older homes
Corpus Christi, TX 78416 75%734$43,198$94,600$93 Very close on everything we compare
Tulia, TX 79088 75%903$35,804$82,800$57 smaller · younger residents · less walkable
Mckeesport, PA 15132 74%660$35,397$73,900$78 more walkable · older homes
Detroit, MI 48227 74%715$36,527$75,100$60 larger · younger residents · older homes
Mansfield, LA 71052 74%430$38,509$109,400$68 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · less walkable
Springhill, LA 71075 74%416$40,246$100,800$81 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · less walkable
Corpus Christi, TX 78405 74%733$38,294$80,300$97 younger residents

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.