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 39211

Jackson: median income $69,426, home value $221,600, $110/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shreveport, LA 71105 92%209$67,968$213,000$120 Very close on everything we compare
Peoria, IL 61615 91%580$79,817$215,700$115 newer homes
Peoria, IL 61614 90%581$66,924$172,100$118 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Monroe, LA 71201 90%116$65,446$263,800$130 pricier homes ($42K more)
Little Rock, AR 72227 90%210$73,879$270,400$134 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 89%672$73,439$194,000$133 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Beaumont, TX 77706 88%286$73,185$244,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
North Little Rock, AR 72116 87%207$79,010$232,600$132 older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 86%480$64,745$238,000$167 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40220 85%477$78,434$264,200$160 pricier homes ($43K more)
Muncie, IN 47304 85%601$63,215$172,200$133 cheaper homes ($49K less) · less walkable
Southfield, MI 48075 85%793$65,384$227,000$135 Very close on everything we compare
Champaign, IL 61821 85%544$70,715$181,800$162 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Springfield, IL 62704 85%512$69,976$172,600$112 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · older residents
Dayton, OH 45440 84%606$82,383$267,900$158 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Moorhead, MN 56560 84%1,061$75,406$253,200$155 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Wichita, KS 67220 84%550$64,338$214,800$118 newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68506 84%684$72,637$258,600$157 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Radford, VA 24141 83%634$62,969$236,400$163 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29209 83%543$58,772$206,500$145 larger
Montgomery, AL 36106 83%225$69,087$220,600$102 smaller · more walkable
Montgomery, AL 36117 83%230$74,720$241,700$135 larger · newer homes
Lansing, MI 48917 83%777$70,990$222,900$149 older residents
Springfield, MO 65804 83%375$62,301$243,500$162 larger · older residents
Topeka, KS 66614 83%556$71,377$194,100$130 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older 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.