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 Anniston, AL 36201

Anniston: median income $37,614, home value $80,900, $40/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alexandria, LA 71302 85%418$34,669$110,000$56 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Warren, AR 71671 85%359$43,419$101,200$36 smaller · newer homes
Meridian, MS 39307 84%190$30,413$91,300$34 5 min shorter commute
Dumas, AR 71639 83%325$37,173$85,700$44 smaller · newer homes
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 82%354$37,528$80,000$31 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Shreveport, LA 71109 81%468$32,939$93,600$37 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Jackson, MS 39209 80%272$36,344$78,400$48 larger
Tulia, TX 79088 80%915$35,804$82,800$57 smaller · younger residents
Okolona, MS 38860 79%169$41,293$100,400$45 smaller · younger residents · newer homes
Meridian, MS 39301 79%186$41,766$119,400— pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Johnstown, PA 15906 78%599$43,284$57,100$45 smaller · older homes
Jackson, MS 39213 78%269$29,541$75,900$39 more walkable
Mansfield, LA 71052 78%470$38,509$109,400$68 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · newer homes
Sharon, PA 16146 77%600$45,670$78,800$54 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Greenville, MS 38703 77%299$44,291$85,700$64 smaller
Belzoni, MS 39038 77%270$33,538$85,800$49 smaller · newer homes
Charleston, MO 63834 77%300$41,348$114,000$67 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Malden, MO 63863 77%308$47,205$91,900$29 smaller
Kinston, NC 28501 76%483$35,118$79,000$82 Very close on everything we compare
Hickman, KY 42050 76%276$41,800$77,100$40 smaller
Saginaw, MI 48601 76%682$38,900$62,800$79 larger
Caruthersville, MO 63830 76%278$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · younger residents
Brinkley, AR 72021 76%317$41,310$94,200$38 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Clarksdale, MS 38614 75%278$37,383$92,300$64 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Marlin, TX 76661 75%664$41,056$66,700$78 smaller

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.