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 Bayou La Batre, AL 36509

Bayou La Batre: median income $33,488, home value $86,500, $112/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Altus, AR 72821 88%472$37,083$100,000$97 larger · more homeowners
Arkoma, OK 74901 88%495$43,929$83,600$118 larger
Hatfield, AR 71945 87%455$38,090$111,000$92 Very close on everything we compare
Caraway, AR 72419 87%389$41,017$93,300$95 Very close on everything we compare
Batesville, TX 78829 87%689$28,517$73,400— Very close on everything we compare
Fort Washakie, WY 82514 87%1,430$31,667$92,200— Very close on everything we compare
Moorhead, MS 38761 86%250$33,625$62,900— larger
Erick, OK 73645 85%751$35,625$90,400$151 Very close on everything we compare
Commerce, OK 74339 85%590$34,970$72,900— larger · older homes
Fulton, KY 42041 84%426$36,045$105,900$87 larger
Hodge, LA 71247 84%294$34,531$76,500$93 older residents
Clarendon, AR 72029 83%342$35,515$66,800— larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Oilton, OK 74052 83%620$31,786$89,500$114 more apartments and townhomes
Krebs, OK 74554 83%535$40,938$99,100$115 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Shellman, GA 39886 82%235$35,395$99,500$119 older residents
Senath, MO 63876 82%411$34,837$95,900— larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74130 82%600$46,691$89,800$91 larger
Cottage Hills, IL 62018 81%597$40,438$70,200$150 larger
Lilbourn, MO 63862 81%434$43,940$81,600$64 Very close on everything we compare
Qulin, MO 63961 81%442$39,167$90,200$93 10 min longer commute
Warrenton, GA 30828 80%389$36,444$75,200$144 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ridgely, TN 38080 80%411$30,313$82,900$77 larger · more renters
Hollow Rock, TN 38342 79%389$38,466$101,000$171 7 min longer commute
Dermott, AR 71638 79%285$31,667$61,900— larger · older residents
Winterhaven, CA 92283 79%1,560$43,393$94,200— more apartments and townhomes

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.