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 63136

Saint Louis: median income $41,154, home value $84,400, $80/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48235 95%451$39,265$90,000$85 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48219 94%448$43,655$99,200$77 Very close on everything we compare
Dayton, OH 45417 93%330$36,945$75,100$84 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44128 91%498$43,993$98,500$98 smaller
Amarillo, TX 79107 91%680$40,671$92,600$103 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38108 89%245$36,257$71,200$72 smaller
Dayton, OH 45406 89%331$41,796$85,000$88 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46218 89%235$38,063$103,100$94 6 min longer commute
Flint, MI 48503 89%454$44,411$83,800$65 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35211 88%409$34,884$96,200$75 smaller
Memphis, TN 38109 88%254$37,496$80,400$93 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit, MI 48223 88%447$44,512$99,500$88 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 88%460$43,133$99,200$109 smaller · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32209 87%756$30,514$97,700$102 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38127 87%240$36,901$90,300$75 younger residents
Toledo, OH 43612 87%409$50,728$93,800$107 Very close on everything we compare
Flint, MI 48507 87%451$46,554$111,300$88 pricier homes ($27K more)
Harvey, IL 60426 87%243$42,196$91,000$107 smaller · more homeowners
Mckeesport, PA 15132 86%565$35,397$73,900$78 smaller · older homes
Memphis, TN 38114 86%251$34,206$82,000$90 smaller · older residents
Louisville, KY 40211 86%243$31,749$100,400$83 smaller
Toledo, OH 43609 86%406$42,313$65,500$73 smaller · older homes
Detroit, MI 48224 86%461$44,856$88,700$68 older homes
Bessemer, AL 35020 85%411$35,362$91,200$57 smaller · more homeowners
Toledo, OH 43607 85%406$41,335$75,900$77 smaller · 7 min shorter 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.