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 Clarksdale, MS 38614

Clarksdale: median income $37,383, home value $92,300, $64/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Youngstown, OH 44505 94%723$37,538$93,000$87 Very close on everything we compare
Tallulah, LA 71282 93%128$35,244$97,400$73 smaller
Alexandria, LA 71302 90%231$34,669$110,000$56 Very close on everything we compare
Caruthersville, MO 63830 88%144$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lafayette, LA 70501 88%289$33,365$116,900$79 larger
Forrest City, AR 72335 88%53$40,400$95,400$69 newer homes
Rockford, IL 61101 87%561$46,163$90,600$92 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31204 86%412$38,784$135,300$89 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Macon, GA 31206 86%413$30,042$90,200$71 larger
Mobile, AL 36605 86%291$43,538$99,200$99 larger
West Helena, AR 72390 86%20$38,294$64,700$54 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Waycross, GA 31501 85%524$37,314$113,600$106 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, GA 31701 85%419$35,025$94,800$76 more renters
Pontiac, MI 48342 85%702$35,253$101,300$99 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, LA 71202 85%154$28,213$83,600$66 larger
Lake Providence, LA 71254 85%105$31,433$107,100— smaller
Mc Gehee, AR 71654 85%61$41,645$97,300$68 smaller
Wichita Falls, TX 76301 85%451$41,947$74,800$78 5 min shorter commute
Beaumont, TX 77703 85%351$31,803$87,600$77 Very close on everything we compare
Tulia, TX 79088 85%637$35,804$82,800$57 smaller
Huntington, WV 25702 84%542$40,708$82,900$76 smaller · older residents
Albany, GA 31705 84%424$42,972$102,900$91 larger
Birmingham, AL 35207 84%224$31,486$80,300$69 smaller · more walkable
Douglas, GA 31533 83%490$42,802$123,100$80 pricier homes ($31K more) · newer homes
Portsmouth, OH 45662 83%530$36,504$102,200$89 larger · older residents

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.