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 Fairfield, AL 35064

Fairfield: median income $48,692, home value $129,100, $92/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Niagara Falls, NY 14305 90%791$51,004$126,000$117 larger · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74128 88%539$52,195$120,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Memphis, TN 38122 87%207$48,710$123,000$117 larger · 5 min longer commute
Saint Louis, MO 63135 87%410$52,328$107,400$92 larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63134 86%411$44,680$94,700$115 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Kansas City, MO 64132 86%571$45,622$108,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 86%625$51,227$172,100$125 pricier homes ($43K more)
Roanoke, VA 24017 85%471$47,360$150,600$114 larger · older residents
Dayton, OH 45439 85%456$52,035$143,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46808 85%535$53,359$140,800$135 larger · older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63121 85%408$42,701$95,600$100 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
North Little Rock, AR 72118 85%323$49,559$123,100$108 larger · older residents
Little Rock, AR 72204 84%322$40,882$124,700$84 larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73149 84%617$53,317$128,100$108 smaller · newer homes
Amarillo, TX 79102 84%859$51,125$153,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79412 84%860$48,878$130,700$90 larger · less walkable
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 83%547$44,884$115,400$109 larger
Beech Grove, IN 46107 83%434$56,799$181,100$126 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46241 83%432$53,653$130,200$129 larger
Saint Ann, MO 63074 83%411$51,610$132,700$153 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63138 83%411$56,096$139,100$103 larger
Kansas City, MO 64129 83%571$51,310$119,400$125 7 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74127 83%549$46,373$134,200$126 larger · older residents
Erie, PA 16504 82%704$56,622$116,400$125 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Laurel, MS 39440 82%178$46,947$125,400$111 larger · less walkable

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.