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 Forest, MS 39074

Forest: median income $46,030, home value $107,200, $109/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Williamsburg, KY 40769 95%429$43,878$105,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
La Grange, NC 28551 93%701$49,092$131,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Lyons, GA 30436 93%418$55,827$107,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Moultrie, GA 31788 92%351$47,325$132,300$152 pricier homes ($25K more)
Saluda, SC 29138 91%459$44,579$136,100$106 pricier homes ($29K more)
Cochran, GA 31014 91%359$54,362$121,200$115 Very close on everything we compare
Waycross, GA 31503 91%425$55,895$109,900$134 larger
Zapata, TX 78076 91%698$39,239$100,000$80 Very close on everything we compare
Lumberton, NC 28358 90%623$48,467$110,400$121 larger · more renters
Dillon, SC 29536 90%599$46,120$90,300$98 6 min longer commute
Eufaula, AL 36027 90%254$47,825$131,800$112 older residents
Hazard, KY 41701 90%493$39,439$97,600$98 older residents
West Monroe, LA 71292 90%159$51,355$137,500$138 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Nacogdoches, TX 75964 90%310$56,762$130,900$120 Very close on everything we compare
Laurinburg, NC 28352 89%599$43,728$118,600$109 larger
Red Springs, NC 28377 89%617$37,326$98,300$102 6 min longer commute
Johnsonville, SC 29555 89%587$43,011$151,000$125 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Americus, GA 31719 89%303$42,905$81,600$102 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Pelham, GA 31779 89%323$47,530$112,000$91 smaller
Columbia, LA 71418 89%156$40,785$91,500$121 smaller
Stilwell, OK 74960 89%380$47,151$116,000$132 more single-family homes
La Feria, TX 78559 89%660$49,383$103,800$166 Very close on everything we compare
Tuba City, AZ 86045 89%1,269$50,844$68,200— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Coeburn, VA 24230 88%509$48,573$101,600$123 smaller · older residents
Murfreesboro, NC 27855 88%759$42,938$99,600$112 smaller

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.