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 Waycross, GA 31501

Waycross: median income $37,314, home value $113,600, $106/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenville, MS 38701 94%529$40,854$127,300$92 larger
Muskogee, OK 74401 94%817$42,294$149,300$110 pricier homes ($36K more)
Trumann, AR 72472 91%561$40,529$113,500$97 smaller
Indianola, MS 38751 90%508$44,699$116,100$91 Very close on everything we compare
Gulfport, MS 39501 90%404$34,758$121,800$92 larger · more renters
Youngstown, OH 44505 90%691$37,538$93,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Tallulah, LA 71282 90%518$35,244$97,400$73 smaller
Henderson, NC 27536 89%420$39,985$131,000$112 more renters
Laurinburg, NC 28352 89%296$43,728$118,600$109 larger
Mobile, AL 36605 89%342$43,538$99,200$99 larger
Jackson, TN 38301 89%480$43,227$132,900$128 larger
Jackson, MI 49202 89%771$42,632$116,100$122 older homes
Jonesboro, LA 71251 89%611$40,128$104,100$124 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lake Providence, LA 71254 89%529$31,433$107,100— smaller
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 89%594$42,181$96,500$97 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Greenwood, MS 38930 88%482$35,453$112,300$67 larger
Laurel, MS 39440 88%400$46,947$125,400$111 younger residents
Pontiac, MI 48342 88%791$35,253$101,300$99 more renters
Lafayette, LA 70501 88%577$33,365$116,900$79 larger
Crowley, LA 70526 88%599$37,747$157,800$82 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min longer commute
Okmulgee, OK 74447 88%841$48,432$113,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, WV 24740 87%431$44,793$132,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 87%420$44,884$115,400$109 younger residents
Hamlet, NC 28345 87%296$40,957$97,600$114 7 min longer commute
Middlesboro, KY 40965 87%381$28,685$95,200$128 Very close on everything we compare

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.