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 62206

East Saint Louis: median income $33,838, home value $53,200, $87/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38108 85%233$36,257$71,200$72 older residents
Dayton, OH 45417 82%327$36,945$75,100$84 larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48234 81%460$35,322$61,200$54 larger · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74110 81%358$42,054$71,400$122 6 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35207 80%392$31,486$80,300$69 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63137 80%14$43,422$82,900$93 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Detroit, MI 48205 79%462$38,966$65,300$60 larger · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74126 79%358$42,172$69,200$125 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48228 78%449$30,680$59,500$73 larger · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64126 78%237$39,934$57,200$101 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Memphis, TN 38109 77%242$37,496$80,400$93 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Gary, IN 46406 77%255$35,839$91,700$97 pricier homes ($39K more) · less walkable
Flint, MI 48504 77%457$38,719$53,500$50 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Corpus Christi, TX 78405 77%854$38,294$80,300$97 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Amarillo, TX 79107 77%683$40,671$92,600$103 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Ecorse, MI 48229 76%448$40,264$65,400$90 less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63133 76%12$39,293$65,100$82 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46218 75%234$38,063$103,100$94 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Detroit, MI 48217 75%449$44,447$65,500$56 smaller · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73129 75%459$46,670$84,700$120 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Memphis, TN 38127 74%228$36,901$90,300$75 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 74%319$34,381$85,200$96 pricier homes ($32K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Louis, MO 63134 73%17$44,680$94,700$115 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Louis, MO 63136 73%13$41,154$84,400$80 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64130 73%239$42,221$86,300$93 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older residents

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.