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 Robbins, IL 60472

Robbins: median income $40,668, home value $121,300, $41/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Duquesne, PA 15110 74%419$44,180$63,800$40 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older residents · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35217 73%559$40,486$120,400$55 larger · older residents · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48217 73%238$44,447$65,500$56 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48211 71%245$35,725$78,900$45 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Braddock, PA 15104 69%418$40,104$66,800$42 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Bessemer, AL 35020 69%570$35,362$91,200$57 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35204 69%563$35,420$89,300$42 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Weldon, NC 27890 68%651$36,875$94,800— cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Montgomery, AL 36110 68%642$47,315$86,900$49 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
River Rouge, MI 48218 68%239$41,033$65,200$72 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older homes
Glassport, PA 15045 67%418$47,803$82,700$83 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35207 67%561$31,486$80,300$69 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35208 67%565$38,561$97,100$55 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35228 67%567$50,815$93,700$61 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · older residents
Corpus Christi, TX 78407 67%1,102$47,688$98,800$72 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48206 66%242$45,046$116,300$53 larger · older residents · older homes
East Pittsburgh, PA 15112 65%419$47,730$90,400$85 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters
Terre Haute, IN 47804 65%149$40,674$94,200$88 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Gary, IN 46402 64%19$33,529$85,400$60 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters · less walkable
Flint, MI 48503 64%226$44,411$83,800$65 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63120 64%244$35,176$53,500$44 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Caruthersville, MO 63830 64%392$36,979$121,300$58 10 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 64%401$36,088$84,600$71 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Montgomery, AL 36108 63%647$33,291$73,800$57 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48215 63%249$33,812$111,000$98 larger

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.