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 Jackson, MS 39202

Jackson: median income $38,554, home value $222,100, $135/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit, MI 48216 84%793$44,335$242,600$106 older homes
Montgomery, AL 36104 83%226$33,823$172,700$104 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 82%666$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35212 81%216$36,633$232,100$188 more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43203 81%664$47,572$319,300$169 pricier homes ($97K more)
Duluth, MN 55805 80%1,006$43,100$189,400$188 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Kansas City, MO 64109 80%527$41,943$275,000$124 pricier homes ($53K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 79%474$50,102$162,000$185 cheaper homes ($60K less) · newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87102 79%965$42,990$197,300$230 larger
Saint Louis, MO 63112 78%439$45,542$212,700$135 larger · older homes
Omaha, NE 68131 77%696$48,925$227,200$161 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Syracuse, NY 13210 76%1,064$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40208 76%478$39,560$188,900$136 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · younger residents
Lincoln, NE 68503 76%689$54,232$169,300$146 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · younger residents
Duluth, MN 55806 75%1,004$42,833$161,400$150 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
El Paso, TX 79902 75%955$50,873$238,500$163 larger · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 74%626$44,198$221,000$154 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Lexington, KY 40504 74%507$46,055$222,600$184 larger · newer homes
Saint Paul, MN 55103 74%888$48,390$257,500$205 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Albuquerque, NM 87108 74%960$42,724$243,200$193 larger
Syracuse, NY 13203 73%1,065$46,997$156,900$118 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Columbus, GA 31901 73%303$51,424$226,500$132 older residents · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48202 72%796$43,627$186,500$123 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Albany, NY 12206 71%1,146$41,548$162,300$112 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40203 71%479$30,794$197,300$145 larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.