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 Ridgeland, MS 39157

Ridgeland: median income $66,068, home value $275,000, $158/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lawrence, KS 66047 94%536$65,392$342,300$173 pricier homes ($67K more)
Bryan, TX 77802 93%385$70,666$254,500$170 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, GA 30606 92%402$63,328$362,500$201 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Augusta, GA 30909 92%472$71,364$242,400$155 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Macon, GA 31210 92%372$78,447$285,800$130 Very close on everything we compare
Conway, AR 72034 92%229$65,635$274,200$163 larger
Little Rock, AR 72211 92%208$83,134$284,100$157 Very close on everything we compare
Winston-Salem, NC 27106 91%616$68,568$313,100$176 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 90%615$67,012$241,700$182 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Bloomington, IN 47403 90%505$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 90%150$79,967$324,000$182 pricier homes ($49K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 90%479$64,745$238,000$167 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32303 88%367$62,275$228,000$178 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37909 88%425$66,984$312,500$223 pricier homes ($38K more)
Knoxville, TN 37923 88%422$73,699$333,000$213 pricier homes ($58K more) · more homeowners
Auburn Hills, MI 48326 88%801$85,190$245,700$187 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Valley Park, MO 63088 88%425$65,769$247,100$183 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Lawrence, KS 66046 88%534$65,478$233,700$199 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Maumelle, AR 72113 88%214$79,248$291,700$158 newer homes
Columbus, GA 31909 87%303$69,166$221,300$149 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Huntsville, AL 35802 87%258$76,324$334,100$170 pricier homes ($59K more)
Mobile, AL 36608 87%161$61,146$262,200$152 larger · older homes
Davenport, IA 52807 87%633$72,579$348,200$180 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tyler, TX 75703 87%303$79,194$336,300$179 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 87%268$55,291$244,500$151 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents

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.