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 31721

Albany: median income $77,177, home value $216,400, $124/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dothan, AL 36305 94%72$84,302$251,000$153 pricier homes ($35K more)
Long Beach, MS 39560 94%299$69,769$219,000$149 Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, NC 27896 93%468$75,696$242,700$170 pricier homes ($26K more)
Mobile, AL 36693 93%236$68,933$210,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
Gaylord, MI 49735 93%933$70,819$227,200$145 Very close on everything we compare
Sherwood, AR 72120 93%514$76,598$200,400$154 larger
Decatur, AL 35603 92%261$81,490$247,400$151 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Paris, TX 75462 92%668$81,563$250,200$155 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 92%845$82,183$224,600$153 younger residents
Anniston, AL 36207 91%171$67,969$202,000$123 older homes
Marion, IL 62959 91%503$71,063$174,800$138 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Derby, KS 67037 91%846$85,541$242,100$142 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
West Monroe, LA 71291 91%466$71,639$227,000$144 larger · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73162 91%817$88,031$254,900$133 pricier homes ($39K more)
Roanoke, VA 24019 90%475$77,870$260,800$161 pricier homes ($44K more)
Florence, SC 29505 90%323$67,343$179,800$149 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Pendleton, SC 29670 90%234$72,445$269,500$150 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Piedmont, SC 29673 90%246$71,444$253,800$157 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
North Augusta, SC 29841 90%196$71,606$199,400$159 larger · older homes
Leeds, AL 35094 90%192$74,625$234,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 90%295$74,310$191,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Angola, IN 46703 90%702$74,569$231,300$173 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, IN 47203 90%541$72,112$244,100$147 pricier homes ($28K more)
Reedsburg, WI 53959 90%887$77,924$255,300$176 pricier homes ($39K more)
Carterville, IL 62918 90%511$70,920$200,200$135 smaller · younger 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.