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 Saint Louis, MO 63113

Saint Louis: median income $39,913, home value $81,600, $48/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, AL 35204 85%403$35,420$89,300$42 younger residents · newer homes
Niagara Falls, NY 14301 83%660$34,549$83,900$86 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48206 83%454$45,046$116,300$53 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Highland Park, MI 48203 81%456$38,404$76,200$70 larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44108 80%498$34,745$67,700$67 larger · younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44112 80%499$28,799$81,300$71 larger
Niagara Falls, NY 14303 76%660$45,646$79,400$83 smaller · younger residents
Elmira, NY 14901 76%745$40,989$93,800$65 younger residents · less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44105 76%495$40,906$61,400$65 larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48204 76%453$34,468$59,200$55 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Dayton, OH 45405 75%332$43,973$84,200$74 larger · younger residents · more renters
Braddock, PA 15104 74%566$40,104$66,800$42 younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Sharon, PA 16146 74%546$45,670$78,800$54 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Syracuse, NY 13205 72%795$38,497$99,000$73 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Mckeesport, PA 15132 72%565$35,397$73,900$78 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Johnstown, PA 15902 71%616$44,215$65,100$56 younger residents · more homeowners · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43610 70%410$46,469$71,500$46 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Detroit, MI 48238 70%454$33,315$64,800$46 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38114 69%246$34,206$82,000$90 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Louisville, KY 40212 69%242$35,753$87,600$80 younger residents · more single-family homes
Muncie, IN 47305 69%280$36,389$77,800$71 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Detroit, MI 48211 69%457$35,725$78,900$45 smaller · younger residents
Johnstown, PA 15906 68%614$43,284$57,100$45 more homeowners · more single-family homes · less walkable
Plymouth, PA 18651 68%777$41,990$97,600$79 younger residents · less walkable
Duquesne, PA 15110 67%566$44,180$63,800$40 smaller · younger residents · 9 min longer commute

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.