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 Memphis, TN 38118

Memphis: median income $43,446, home value $107,600, $88/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little Rock, AR 72209 98%140$40,231$98,800$95 Very close on everything we compare
West Memphis, AR 72301 89%16$42,859$120,100$115 smaller · older residents
El Paso, TX 79904 88%976$41,841$127,100$142 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 85%687$44,884$115,400$109 smaller · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 84%422$51,228$126,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43223 83%506$46,911$131,100$144 Very close on everything we compare
Laredo, TX 78040 83%768$36,092$118,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
Jackson, MS 39206 82%186$42,686$117,400$65 smaller · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46222 82%385$50,783$116,300$107 older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53218 82%566$45,642$133,400$139 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74146 82%341$46,865$145,700$133 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Albany, GA 31705 81%415$42,972$102,900$91 older residents · less walkable
Fort Smith, AR 72901 81%254$42,851$118,100$113 smaller · older residents · older homes
Albany, GA 31707 80%408$50,862$133,900$98 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · older residents
Wichita, KS 67216 80%448$48,902$94,900$110 smaller · more homeowners
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 80%430$43,133$99,200$109 smaller · older homes
Port Arthur, TX 77642 80%424$42,950$104,700$115 5 min longer commute · more homeowners · less walkable
Columbia, SC 29203 79%511$46,054$141,300$148 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35211 79%206$34,884$96,200$75 smaller · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pontiac, MI 48340 79%636$47,891$119,900$116 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Saint Louis, MO 63138 79%260$56,096$139,100$103 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 79%327$34,458$99,800$102 smaller · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 79%432$45,421$100,600$123 more single-family homes · older homes
El Paso, TX 79930 79%978$42,099$135,000$134 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller · older residents
Macon, GA 31204 78%389$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · 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.