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 Cookeville, TN 38501

Cookeville: median income $52,145, home value $284,600, $199/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carrollton, GA 30117 93%184$61,842$267,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Stephenville, TX 76401 92%775$61,210$270,000$200 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, TX 77340 92%695$48,538$244,000$157 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Greensboro, NC 27407 91%317$59,427$223,900$179 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 90%239$62,301$234,000$154 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Hammond, LA 70401 89%486$50,653$211,000$144 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Fayetteville, NC 28311 88%380$62,170$216,900$151 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Central, SC 29630 88%185$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 88%237$48,932$197,500$170 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Bowling Green, KY 42101 88%75$48,217$207,200$170 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Warrensburg, MO 64093 88%482$61,094$236,300$155 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Springdale, AR 72764 88%474$65,898$249,800$205 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 88%1,722$60,901$247,700$194 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28213 87%276$58,146$282,900$192 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Valdosta, GA 31602 87%389$56,939$217,300$132 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Richmond, KY 40475 87%127$63,050$244,300$178 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Bowling Green, OH 43402 87%371$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Springfield, MO 65807 87%435$53,870$192,400$162 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Laredo, TX 78041 87%1,012$61,544$221,300$152 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Fayetteville, NC 28314 86%375$62,249$185,700$148 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Statesboro, GA 30458 86%338$52,038$231,300$177 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
Rolla, MO 65401 86%363$56,081$222,800$138 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Lafayette, LA 70506 86%561$57,379$218,000$135 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Alamosa, CO 81101 86%1,126$54,844$240,400$183 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Calexico, CA 92231 86%1,717$49,742$313,400$242 pricier homes ($29K more)

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.