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 Macon, GA 31206

Macon: median income $30,042, home value $90,200, $71/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monroe, LA 71202 96%489$28,213$83,600$66 Very close on everything we compare
Beaumont, TX 77703 92%642$31,803$87,600$77 smaller · newer homes
Lafayette, LA 70501 88%521$33,365$116,900$79 pricier homes ($27K more)
Baton Rouge, LA 70805 88%467$25,397$108,500$47 Very close on everything we compare
Baton Rouge, LA 70807 88%469$27,534$121,100$47 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Pontiac, MI 48342 87%681$35,253$101,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksdale, MS 38614 86%413$37,383$92,300$64 smaller
Gary, IN 46406 86%641$35,839$91,700$97 smaller
Memphis, TN 38127 85%401$36,901$90,300$75 larger · more walkable
Alexandria, LA 71302 85%523$34,669$110,000$56 smaller · more homeowners
Youngstown, OH 44505 84%600$37,538$93,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71108 84%588$32,055$71,500$47 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35207 83%189$31,486$80,300$69 smaller · more walkable
Tallulah, LA 71282 83%430$35,244$97,400$73 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38108 82%396$36,257$71,200$72 more walkable
Greenwood, MS 38930 82%379$35,453$112,300$67 more homeowners
Akron, OH 44306 82%583$41,688$81,400$88 older homes
Inkster, MI 48141 82%657$39,252$80,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, NC 28501 80%389$35,118$79,000$82 older residents
Warren, OH 44485 80%604$35,195$74,900$110 smaller
Dayton, OH 45417 80%482$36,945$75,100$84 more walkable
Jackson, MS 39209 79%384$36,344$78,400$48 more walkable
Portsmouth, OH 45662 79%417$36,504$102,200$89 older residents
Forrest City, AR 72335 79%435$40,400$95,400$69 newer homes
Mobile, AL 36610 78%295$30,529$57,600— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents

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.