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 Memphis, TN 38108

Memphis: median income $36,257, home value $71,200, $72/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dayton, OH 45417 97%445$36,945$75,100$84 larger
Akron, OH 44306 91%613$41,688$81,400$88 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Louis, MO 63137 91%247$43,422$82,900$93 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48234 90%624$35,322$61,200$54 larger
Birmingham, AL 35207 89%212$31,486$80,300$69 smaller
Detroit, MI 48205 89%626$38,966$65,300$60 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63136 89%245$41,154$84,400$80 larger
Kansas City, MO 64128 89%368$36,088$84,600$71 older residents
Bessemer, AL 35020 87%211$35,362$91,200$57 older residents · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64130 87%367$42,221$86,300$93 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40211 86%313$31,749$100,400$83 pricier homes ($29K more)
Toledo, OH 43609 86%564$42,313$65,500$73 older homes
Gary, IN 46406 86%464$35,839$91,700$97 smaller · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48227 86%617$36,527$75,100$60 larger · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48228 86%614$30,680$59,500$73 larger
Anderson, IN 46016 85%413$36,029$78,500$46 older homes
Inkster, MI 48141 85%608$39,252$80,400$105 less walkable
Detroit, MI 48235 85%619$39,265$90,000$85 larger
East Saint Louis, IL 62206 85%233$33,838$53,200$87 younger residents
Amarillo, TX 79107 85%668$40,671$92,600$103 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46218 84%384$38,063$103,100$94 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48219 84%617$43,655$99,200$77 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Saint Louis, MO 63133 84%242$39,293$65,100$82 smaller · more walkable
Mckeesport, PA 15132 83%657$35,397$73,900$78 older residents · more walkable
Mobile, AL 36610 83%326$30,529$57,600— smaller · older 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.