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 Charleston, MS 38921

Charleston: median income $37,326, home value $102,000, $55/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Senath, MO 63876 92%149$34,837$95,900— smaller
Mansfield, LA 71052 92%248$38,509$109,400$68 larger
Timpson, TX 75975 91%287$44,297$96,900— Very close on everything we compare
Bismarck, MO 63624 90%263$41,984$90,400$68 Very close on everything we compare
Shiprock, NM 87420 89%1,064$36,335$103,900— larger
Denmark, SC 29042 88%518$41,047$88,200$86 Very close on everything we compare
Thomasville, AL 36784 88%197$48,434$110,700$70 Very close on everything we compare
Hamburg, AR 71646 88%111$40,823$89,700$78 Very close on everything we compare
Crownpoint, NM 87313 88%1,022$43,041$70,600— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Bishopville, SC 29010 87%563$43,500$103,400$78 larger
Carrollton, AL 35447 87%124$40,000$110,100— older residents
Fordyce, AR 71742 87%133$38,843$98,200$67 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Aliceville, AL 35442 86%126$44,503$139,000$66 pricier homes ($37K more)
Mamou, LA 70554 86%266$28,638$93,400$51 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonport, LA 71327 86%235$31,953$95,800$75 6 min longer commute
Hoxie, AR 72433 86%150$36,473$92,400$37 smaller
Saint Paul, VA 24283 85%483$40,402$114,200$72 smaller
Reidsville, GA 30453 85%480$42,013$117,800$85 larger
Brundidge, AL 36010 85%295$41,503$110,100$84 Very close on everything we compare
Middleport, OH 45760 85%566$46,905$94,800$61 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, AR 71671 85%116$43,419$101,200$36 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Biscoe, NC 27209 84%595$45,861$129,300— pricier homes ($27K more)
Rowesville, SC 29133 84%535$36,987$136,400— pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Delcambre, LA 70528 84%299$49,676$125,700$59 smaller
Heavener, OK 74937 84%264$41,367$104,300$94 Very close on everything we compare

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.