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 38127

Memphis: median income $36,901, home value $90,300, $75/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little Rock, AR 72209 90%137$40,231$98,800$95 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45417 89%444$36,945$75,100$84 older residents
Lafayette, LA 70501 88%365$33,365$116,900$79 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63136 87%240$41,154$84,400$80 older residents
Macon, GA 31206 85%401$30,042$90,200$71 smaller · less walkable
Akron, OH 44306 85%612$41,688$81,400$88 smaller · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63137 85%242$43,422$82,900$93 smaller
Amarillo, TX 79107 85%664$40,671$92,600$103 more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35211 84%218$34,884$96,200$75 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Akron, OH 44310 84%615$41,066$99,400$105 smaller · older homes
Macon, GA 31204 83%400$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($45K more)
Jackson, MS 39209 83%203$36,344$78,400$48 smaller · older residents
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 82%690$44,884$115,400$109 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32209 82%590$30,514$97,700$102 older residents
Clarksdale, MS 38614 82%77$37,383$92,300$64 smaller · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48219 82%615$43,655$99,200$77 more homeowners · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64130 82%361$42,221$86,300$93 smaller · older homes
Beaumont, TX 77703 82%427$31,803$87,600$77 smaller · less walkable
Pontiac, MI 48342 81%626$35,253$101,300$99 smaller · older residents
West Memphis, AR 72301 81%11$42,859$120,100$115 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 81%423$43,133$99,200$109 smaller · more walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 81%425$45,421$100,600$123 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, OH 43607 80%562$41,335$75,900$77 smaller
Gary, IN 46406 80%460$35,839$91,700$97 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46806 80%481$47,895$84,100$106 Very close on everything we compare

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.