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 Ridgely, TN 38080

Ridgely: median income $30,313, home value $82,900, $77/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Drew, MS 38737 94%176$28,343$77,800— Very close on everything we compare
Kensett, AR 72082 88%142$31,638$91,000$84 6 min shorter commute
Tennille, GA 31089 87%443$36,094$99,300$87 larger
Edison, GA 39846 87%424$36,661$65,700— Very close on everything we compare
Beaumont, TX 77703 87%502$31,803$87,600$77 larger
Cumberland, KY 40823 86%364$35,402$70,500$61 Very close on everything we compare
Weldon, NC 27890 85%661$36,875$94,800— older homes
Hayti, MO 63851 84%15$28,705$77,600$45 Very close on everything we compare
Mound Bayou, MS 38762 82%179$27,000$95,400— older residents
Gary, IN 46406 82%384$35,839$91,700$97 larger
Clarendon, AR 72029 82%149$35,515$66,800— more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35207 81%240$31,486$80,300$69 larger · more walkable · older homes
Fulton, KY 42041 81%39$36,045$105,900$87 larger · more homeowners
Denmark, SC 29042 80%515$41,047$88,200$86 larger · more homeowners
Bayou La Batre, AL 36509 80%411$33,488$86,500$112 smaller · more homeowners
Tallulah, LA 71282 80%280$35,244$97,400$73 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Mc Gehee, AR 71654 80%212$41,645$97,300$68 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Marianna, AR 72360 80%126$22,574$68,800— larger · older residents
Mc Coll, SC 29570 79%569$30,768$55,300$85 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Isola, MS 38754 79%218$38,173$84,300$58 smaller · older residents
Ruleville, MS 38771 79%186$33,547$86,100$38 younger residents
Caruthersville, MO 63830 79%12$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Lake Providence, LA 71254 79%258$31,433$107,100— larger · 9 min shorter commute
Dermott, AR 71638 79%219$31,667$61,900— older residents · more homeowners
Pennington Gap, VA 24277 78%360$31,737$86,200$92 larger · older residents · more homeowners

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.