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 Albany, GA 31705

Albany: median income $42,972, home value $102,900, $91/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pontiac, MI 48340 93%770$47,891$119,900$116 Very close on everything we compare
Port Arthur, TX 77642 93%595$42,950$104,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Laurinburg, NC 28352 92%347$43,728$118,600$109 Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, TX 79072 92%1,039$47,255$114,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, TN 38301 91%391$43,227$132,900$128 pricier homes ($30K more)
Mccomb, MS 39648 91%374$42,737$105,300$92 smaller
Forrest City, AR 72335 91%455$40,400$95,400$69 smaller
Memphis, TN 38128 90%423$47,645$138,000$91 pricier homes ($35K more)
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 89%473$44,884$115,400$109 smaller · more walkable
Lumberton, NC 28358 89%363$48,467$110,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
New Iberia, LA 70560 89%472$45,509$133,700$115 pricier homes ($31K more)
Lawton, OK 73501 89%853$49,741$133,000$119 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Orangeburg, SC 29115 88%231$37,751$102,000$114 7 min longer commute
Texarkana, TX 75501 88%602$45,995$136,100$122 pricier homes ($33K more)
Mobile, AL 36605 87%245$43,538$99,200$99 more single-family homes
Laurel, MS 39440 87%297$46,947$125,400$111 smaller
Gulfport, MS 39501 87%308$34,758$121,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Youngstown, OH 44505 87%689$37,538$93,000$87 smaller · older homes
Pontiac, MI 48342 87%768$35,253$101,300$99 smaller · older homes
Rockford, IL 61101 87%793$46,163$90,600$92 smaller · older homes
Wichita, KS 67216 87%861$48,902$94,900$110 Very close on everything we compare
Selma, AL 36701 86%183$39,815$108,200$82 more homeowners
Rantoul, IL 61866 86%647$50,686$121,300$112 smaller
Blytheville, AR 72315 86%452$52,259$134,600$89 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Fort Smith, AR 72904 86%651$41,909$111,500$108 more single-family 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.