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 Macon, GA 31217

Macon: median income $44,809, home value $105,200, $80/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bishopville, SC 29010 94%213$43,500$103,400$78 Very close on everything we compare
Sylacauga, AL 35150 93%159$45,768$132,100$100 pricier homes ($27K more)
Greenville, AL 36037 93%192$45,677$103,300$96 Very close on everything we compare
Mansfield, LA 71052 93%593$38,509$109,400$68 smaller
Hamlet, NC 28345 92%264$40,957$97,600$114 Very close on everything we compare
Dillon, SC 29536 92%265$46,120$90,300$98 Very close on everything we compare
Selma, AL 36701 91%203$39,815$108,200$82 Very close on everything we compare
De Queen, AR 71832 91%627$52,747$110,600$83 smaller
Bastrop, LA 71220 90%484$38,037$111,700$81 more single-family homes
Oakdale, LA 71463 90%552$43,594$100,700$105 smaller
Hope, AR 71801 90%583$45,345$99,400$70 Very close on everything we compare
Laurinburg, NC 28352 89%271$43,728$118,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Eufaula, AL 36027 89%112$47,825$131,800$112 pricier homes ($27K more)
Meridian, MS 39301 89%298$41,766$119,400— older residents
Mccomb, MS 39648 89%416$42,737$105,300$92 Very close on everything we compare
Williamston, NC 27892 88%423$48,223$113,900$105 older residents
Red Springs, NC 28377 88%288$37,326$98,300$102 smaller
Brundidge, AL 36010 88%152$41,503$110,100$84 smaller
Monroeville, AL 36460 88%238$41,008$126,500$90 smaller · older residents
Aberdeen, MS 39730 88%296$43,336$93,500$110 smaller
Minden, LA 71055 88%565$36,953$127,000$101 Very close on everything we compare
Forest, MS 39074 87%345$46,030$107,200$109 newer homes
Macon, MS 39341 87%291$45,535$94,800$57 smaller
Hazard, KY 41701 87%311$39,439$97,600$98 Very close on everything we compare
Church Point, LA 70525 87%536$44,697$119,800$122 newer 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.