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 62204

East Saint Louis: median income $35,346, home value $47,800, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Johnstown, PA 15906 75%606$43,284$57,100$45 larger · less walkable
Burton, MI 48529 72%451$41,333$86,700$113 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more renters
Montgomery, AL 36108 69%483$33,291$73,800$57 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more renters
Appalachia, VA 24216 68%415$37,795$53,800$61 smaller · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35221 68%400$33,472$73,500$50 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · more renters
Montgomery, AL 36105 68%485$41,486$82,400$42 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · more renters
Saint Louis, MO 63147 68%10$41,182$79,000$65 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Welch, WV 24801 67%470$29,330$57,800$93 less walkable
Donora, PA 15033 65%556$39,921$62,500$73 7 min longer commute · more renters · older homes
Glassport, PA 15045 65%556$47,803$82,700$83 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents · more renters
Johnstown, PA 15902 65%608$44,215$65,100$56 larger · younger residents · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35208 65%397$38,561$97,100$55 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · more renters
Charleston, WV 25387 64%458$43,063$91,400$122 pricier homes ($44K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Benwood, WV 26031 64%509$46,797$78,300$83 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · more renters
Youngstown, OH 44509 64%527$36,570$57,900$84 larger · younger residents · more renters
Renovo, PA 17764 63%679$41,173$83,800$95 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · less walkable
Dayton, OH 45416 63%323$46,174$81,100$92 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Paducah, TX 79248 63%651$49,028$55,000$39 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Farrell, PA 16121 62%539$42,595$87,800— pricier homes ($40K more) · 8 min shorter commute · more renters
Marks, MS 38646 62%302$38,618$88,300— pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48213 62%455$34,003$56,200$42 larger · younger residents · more renters
Ecorse, MI 48229 62%442$40,264$65,400$90 larger · younger residents · more renters
Topeka, KS 66608 62%302$49,126$87,500$112 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Marlin, TX 76661 62%635$41,056$66,700$78 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 61%561$48,750$113,400$80 pricier homes ($66K more)

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.