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.

Reset

Towns most like Courtland, MS 38620

Courtland: median income $45,539, home value $105,800, $125/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Patterson, GA 31557 94%495$47,083$109,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Phil Campbell, AL 35581 94%127$43,555$104,800$116 larger
East Bernstadt, KY 40729 94%385$47,077$104,700$119 larger
Salina, OK 74365 93%324$51,067$120,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Lamar, SC 29069 92%562$48,393$132,300$134 pricier homes ($27K more)
Grand Ridge, FL 32442 92%377$45,500$114,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
White Plains, KY 42464 92%248$45,893$104,700— smaller
Amity, AR 71921 92%199$54,271$109,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas, OK 74347 92%306$47,526$104,200$147 older residents
Howe, OK 74940 92%271$50,677$130,700$141 Very close on everything we compare
Keota, OK 74941 92%290$52,969$96,300$120 Very close on everything we compare
Fruitland, NM 87416 92%1,052$49,973$94,400— Very close on everything we compare
Meigs, GA 31765 91%406$42,083$100,800— Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, AL 36279 91%234$53,024$159,100$131 pricier homes ($53K more)
Caneyville, KY 42721 91%292$49,583$130,700$169 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesville, LA 71343 91%210$48,927$93,900$126 larger
Oktaha, OK 74450 91%328$50,446$122,200$149 smaller
Belington, WV 26250 90%644$47,682$112,000$122 larger · older homes
Bolton, NC 28423 90%662$52,250$134,100$152 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dexter, GA 31019 90%417$47,944$97,100$114 older residents
Henning, TN 38041 90%98$41,042$95,500$97 Very close on everything we compare
Pullman, MI 49450 90%604$50,102$119,100$168 younger residents
Castor, LA 71016 90%229$41,806$114,000— smaller
Shirley, AR 72153 90%165$50,253$131,000$161 pricier homes ($25K more)
Coeburn, VA 24230 89%459$48,573$101,600$123 larger

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.