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 62205

East Saint Louis: median income $45,672, home value $41,800, $32/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Johnstown, PA 15906 74%608$43,284$57,100$45 older residents · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43610 72%406$46,469$71,500$46 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48213 70%457$34,003$56,200$42 larger
Flint, MI 48504 70%453$38,719$53,500$50 larger · younger residents
Duquesne, PA 15110 69%561$44,180$63,800$40 7 min longer commute · more renters
Detroit, MI 48217 68%445$44,447$65,500$56 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Johnstown, PA 15902 67%610$44,215$65,100$56 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63120 67%9$35,176$53,500$44 younger residents · more renters
Montgomery, AL 36105 65%485$41,486$82,400$42 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents · more single-family homes
Flint, MI 48505 64%455$33,283$31,700$27 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Braddock, PA 15104 62%561$40,104$66,800$42 pricier homes ($25K more) · 7 min longer commute · more renters
Birmingham, AL 35208 61%397$38,561$97,100$55 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48204 61%449$34,468$59,200$55 larger · more renters · older homes
River Rouge, MI 48218 61%446$41,033$65,200$72 younger residents · older homes
Sharon, PA 16146 59%541$45,670$78,800$54 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35204 59%397$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($48K more) · more renters
Montgomery, AL 36108 59%483$33,291$73,800$57 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63147 59%9$41,182$79,000$65 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Pitcairn, PA 15140 58%565$36,419$59,300$35 smaller · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Paducah, TX 79248 58%649$49,028$55,000$39 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Flint, MI 48503 57%453$44,411$83,800$65 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · more renters
Creighton, PA 15030 56%567$56,094$89,100— pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · older residents
Glassport, PA 15045 56%558$47,803$82,700$83 pricier homes ($41K more)
Farrell, PA 16121 56%541$42,595$87,800— pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35228 56%399$50,815$93,700$61 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · more single-family homes

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.