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 East Saint Louis, IL 62201

East Saint Louis: median income $27,437, home value $60,000, $49/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gary, IN 46407 86%251$28,526$60,200$48 larger · 6 min longer commute
Topeka, KS 66607 85%298$29,797$46,400$61 larger · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35207 84%397$31,486$80,300$69 larger · younger residents
Jackson, MS 39213 81%434$29,541$75,900$39 larger
Shreveport, LA 71103 81%471$27,380$75,900— more single-family homes · less walkable
Mobile, AL 36610 79%559$30,529$57,600— larger · more single-family homes
Saint Louis, MO 63120 79%7$35,176$53,500$44 younger residents · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35204 78%399$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more walkable
Memphis, TN 38106 78%245$30,232$71,800$47 larger · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35218 77%398$30,739$92,600$58 pricier homes ($33K more) · more renters · more walkable
Birmingham, AL 35234 76%399$26,831$114,300$34 pricier homes ($54K more) · more walkable
Montgomery, AL 36108 76%485$33,291$73,800$57 larger · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Canton, OH 44704 76%490$31,812$54,300$80 younger residents · older homes
Hayti, MO 63851 76%168$28,705$77,600$45 younger residents · newer homes
Marianna, AR 72360 76%270$22,574$68,800— less walkable · newer homes
Jackson, MS 39203 75%438$26,569$53,000$29 younger residents · more renters · more walkable
Gary, IN 46402 74%252$33,529$85,400$60 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 73%239$36,088$84,600$71 larger
Jackson, MS 39209 72%437$36,344$78,400$48 larger
Tulia, TX 79088 72%705$35,804$82,800$57 more single-family homes · less walkable
Weldon, NC 27890 71%703$36,875$94,800— pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Meridian, MS 39307 71%440$30,413$91,300$34 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · less walkable
Memphis, TN 38108 70%240$36,257$71,200$72 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38114 70%245$34,206$82,000$90 larger
Shreveport, LA 71109 70%473$32,939$93,600$37 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 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.