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 Clinton, MS 39056

Clinton: median income $75,110, home value $225,800, $139/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portage, MI 49024 92%728$91,105$267,400$165 pricier homes ($42K more)
Midland, MI 48640 91%847$80,574$200,700$147 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Midland, MI 48642 91%848$77,847$207,400$153 Very close on everything we compare
Spartanburg, SC 29302 90%519$80,819$285,400$156 pricier homes ($60K more)
Anderson, SC 29621 90%468$74,256$278,400$159 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Taylors, SC 29687 90%494$80,051$267,400$185 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Mobile, AL 36693 90%174$68,933$210,200$128 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46637 90%686$71,462$207,100$154 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46835 90%673$77,152$210,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
Derby, KS 67037 90%532$85,541$242,100$142 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73162 90%475$88,031$254,900$133 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Canyon, TX 79015 90%691$83,445$280,400$177 pricier homes ($55K more)
Edinboro, PA 16412 89%864$71,590$246,200$186 smaller
Augusta, GA 30907 89%485$81,912$242,100$158 larger
Oberlin, OH 44074 89%763$80,801$234,200$151 smaller · older homes
Greenwood, IN 46142 89%554$89,001$287,000$157 pricier homes ($61K more)
Columbus, IN 47201 89%534$83,958$228,800$144 larger
Holt, MI 48842 89%779$88,340$225,900$153 Very close on everything we compare
Bemidji, MN 56601 89%1,078$72,262$260,900$170 pricier homes ($35K more)
Columbia, SC 29212 88%542$77,142$247,000$149 older residents
Statesboro, GA 30461 88%502$80,224$255,800$158 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35210 88%228$73,061$255,800$191 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Wadsworth, OH 44281 88%766$89,131$278,800$186 pricier homes ($53K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46234 88%562$83,190$241,900$146 newer homes
Valparaiso, IN 46383 88%655$76,224$279,900$179 pricier homes ($54K more) · 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.