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.

Reset

Towns most like East Saint Louis, IL 62207

East Saint Louis: median income $29,845, home value $58,200, $25/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jackson, MS 39204 84%436$30,237$69,500$30 larger · more renters
Jackson, MS 39203 82%434$26,569$53,000$29 smaller · more renters · older homes
Jackson, MS 39213 80%431$29,541$75,900$39 larger
Hayti, MO 63851 75%164$28,705$77,600$45 smaller · less walkable
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 74%320$37,528$80,000$31 larger · less walkable
Mobile, AL 36610 71%555$30,529$57,600— older residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Meridian, MS 39307 71%436$30,413$91,300$34 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · less walkable
Ruleville, MS 38771 69%337$33,547$86,100$38 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · less walkable
Jackson, MS 39209 69%433$36,344$78,400$48 larger
Gary, IN 46407 68%254$28,526$60,200$48 less walkable · older homes
Flint, MI 48505 67%456$33,283$31,700$27 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Topeka, KS 66607 67%299$29,797$46,400$61 older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63120 66%10$35,176$53,500$44 older homes
Shreveport, LA 71109 66%470$32,939$93,600$37 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · less walkable
Lake Providence, LA 71254 65%404$31,433$107,100— pricier homes ($49K more) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Montgomery, AL 36108 64%481$33,291$73,800$57 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Malden, MO 63863 64%140$47,205$91,900$29 pricier homes ($34K more) · less walkable
Shreveport, LA 71103 64%468$27,380$75,900— older residents · less walkable · older homes
Marianna, AR 72360 64%266$22,574$68,800— older residents · less walkable
Weldon, NC 27890 63%702$36,875$94,800— pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35234 63%395$26,831$114,300$34 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35204 62%395$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35207 62%393$31,486$80,300$69 older homes
Memphis, TN 38106 62%241$30,232$71,800$47 larger · older residents · older homes
Moorhead, MS 38761 62%354$33,625$62,900— smaller · more homeowners · 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.