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 63147

Saint Louis: median income $41,182, home value $79,000, $65/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Donora, PA 15033 88%562$39,921$62,500$73 smaller · less walkable
Mckeesport, PA 15132 83%564$35,397$73,900$78 larger · younger residents
Glassport, PA 15045 80%562$47,803$82,700$83 smaller · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35208 79%406$38,561$97,100$55 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44119 79%500$44,077$117,100$97 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · younger residents
Detroit, MI 48204 79%450$34,468$59,200$55 larger · younger residents
Bessemer, AL 35020 78%410$35,362$91,200$57 larger · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40212 78%242$35,753$87,600$80 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Corpus Christi, TX 78416 78%863$43,198$94,600$93 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Burton, MI 48529 76%452$41,333$86,700$113 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
East Saint Louis, IL 62203 76%12$42,111$68,700$46 8 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Terre Haute, IN 47804 75%162$40,674$94,200$88 younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Highland Park, MI 48203 75%454$38,404$76,200$70 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
River Rouge, MI 48218 74%446$41,033$65,200$72 younger residents
Duquesne, PA 15110 73%565$44,180$63,800$40 smaller · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35217 73%404$40,486$120,400$55 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35221 73%409$33,472$73,500$50 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Montgomery, AL 36105 73%493$41,486$82,400$42 11 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44105 73%493$40,906$61,400$65 larger · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48217 73%446$44,447$65,500$56 younger residents
Detroit, MI 48223 73%446$44,512$99,500$88 larger · younger residents
Johnstown, PA 15906 72%612$43,284$57,100$45 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 72%569$48,750$113,400$80 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Montgomery, AL 36108 72%491$33,291$73,800$57 larger · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40210 72%243$35,347$98,700$99 larger · younger residents · more renters

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.