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 63120

Saint Louis: median income $35,176, home value $53,500, $44/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48211 85%457$35,725$78,900$45 pricier homes ($25K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Detroit, MI 48213 85%459$34,003$56,200$42 larger · more homeowners
Toledo, OH 43605 83%411$39,118$49,700$63 larger
Cleveland, OH 44127 83%494$32,572$44,400$29 smaller · 5 min longer commute
River Rouge, MI 48218 83%448$41,033$65,200$72 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48238 83%453$33,315$64,800$46 larger
Anderson, IN 46016 82%263$36,029$78,500$46 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · less walkable
Topeka, KS 66607 82%291$29,797$46,400$61 newer homes
Braddock, PA 15104 81%566$40,104$66,800$42 older residents · 8 min longer commute
Erie, PA 16503 81%586$32,340$64,600$58 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Toledo, OH 43609 80%407$42,313$65,500$73 larger
Gary, IN 46402 80%253$33,529$85,400$60 pricier homes ($32K more) · less walkable
Peoria, IL 61603 80%144$41,618$77,500$58 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Peoria, IL 61605 80%141$26,392$47,400$34 larger
Duquesne, PA 15110 79%566$44,180$63,800$40 8 min longer commute
Detroit, MI 48234 79%458$35,322$61,200$54 larger · more single-family homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 79%7$27,437$60,000$49 older residents · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35204 78%405$35,420$89,300$42 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Mansfield, OH 44902 78%436$31,343$62,300$56 more renters · less walkable
Gary, IN 46407 78%252$28,526$60,200$48 less walkable
Detroit, MI 48204 78%452$34,468$59,200$55 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35207 77%403$31,486$80,300$69 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35218 77%404$30,739$92,600$58 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Memphis, TN 38108 77%243$36,257$71,200$72 larger
Flint, MI 48504 76%454$38,719$53,500$50 larger · more homeowners · 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.