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 Ruleville, MS 38771

Ruleville: median income $33,547, home value $86,100, $38/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hayti, MO 63851 93%179$28,705$77,600$45 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, KY 40823 85%482$35,402$70,500$61 Very close on everything we compare
White Castle, LA 70788 83%249$33,079$138,100$33 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents
Fort Washakie, WY 82514 83%1,179$31,667$92,200— smaller · more homeowners
Lake Providence, LA 71254 82%73$31,433$107,100— larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Cardwell, MO 63829 81%161$28,281$68,100— smaller · younger residents
Dumas, AR 71639 81%55$37,173$85,700$44 larger · older residents
Lame Deer, MT 59043 80%1,179$29,028$111,000— younger residents · more homeowners
West Helena, AR 72390 80%57$38,294$64,700$54 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Ridgely, TN 38080 79%186$30,313$82,900$77 older residents
Edison, GA 39846 79%370$36,661$65,700— older residents
Caruthersville, MO 63830 79%177$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Clarendon, AR 72029 79%76$35,515$66,800— 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Eagle Butte, SD 57625 78%964$43,235$68,000— 7 min shorter commute
Winterhaven, CA 92283 78%1,391$43,393$94,200— smaller · more homeowners
Weldon, NC 27890 77%755$36,875$94,800— older residents · older homes
Mission, SD 57555 77%854$40,694$84,600— 6 min shorter commute
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 77%89$37,528$80,000$31 larger
Mc Gehee, AR 71654 76%49$41,645$97,300$68 larger · older residents
Pippa Passes, KY 41844 75%499$31,690$73,900— smaller · younger residents
Fort Yates, ND 58538 74%1,006$34,858$88,500— younger residents · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Tallulah, LA 71282 74%94$35,244$97,400$73 larger
Commerce, OK 74339 74%329$34,970$72,900— more homeowners · more single-family homes · older homes
Beaumont, TX 77703 74%326$31,803$87,600$77 larger
Statenville, GA 31648 73%487$43,750$78,400— smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.