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 Peoria, IL 61605

Peoria: median income $26,392, home value $47,400, $34/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Toledo, OH 43608 82%324$29,275$49,500$42 more homeowners · older homes
Memphis, TN 38106 80%386$30,232$71,800$47 larger · older residents
Jackson, MS 39203 80%579$26,569$53,000$29 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63120 80%141$35,176$53,500$44 smaller
Topeka, KS 66607 80%339$29,797$46,400$61 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48505 77%347$33,283$31,700$27 7 min longer commute
Jackson, MS 39204 74%581$30,237$69,500$30 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Jackson, MS 39213 73%576$29,541$75,900$39 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · newer homes
Detroit, MI 48213 70%363$34,003$56,200$42 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Detroit, MI 48234 70%361$35,322$61,200$54 larger · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35218 69%518$30,739$92,600$58 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Gary, IN 46407 69%135$28,526$60,200$48 smaller · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Mobile, AL 36610 68%693$30,529$57,600— older residents · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48228 67%351$30,680$59,500$73 larger
Toledo, OH 43605 66%325$39,118$49,700$63 larger · older homes
Cleveland, OH 44127 66%419$32,572$44,400$29 smaller · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Flint, MI 48504 66%344$38,719$53,500$50 larger · more homeowners
Anderson, IN 46016 65%211$36,029$78,500$46 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Erie, PA 16503 64%505$32,340$64,600$58 more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35204 64%518$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
Youngstown, OH 44507 64%469$29,176$25,900$30 smaller · less walkable · older homes
Detroit, MI 48238 64%356$33,315$64,800$46 larger · 9 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35207 61%516$31,486$80,300$69 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · less walkable
Montgomery, AL 36107 61%603$32,492$80,900$72 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Memphis, TN 38108 61%380$36,257$71,200$72 6 min longer commute · less walkable

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.