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 39213

Jackson: median income $29,541, home value $75,900, $39/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38106 88%190$30,232$71,800$47 older homes
Shreveport, LA 71109 87%209$32,939$93,600$37 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Montgomery, AL 36108 86%226$33,291$73,800$57 more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36610 85%169$30,529$57,600— smaller
Bessemer, AL 35020 83%203$35,362$91,200$57 more homeowners
Baton Rouge, LA 70805 82%140$25,397$108,500$47 pricier homes ($33K more)
East Saint Louis, IL 62201 81%434$27,437$60,000$49 smaller
Birmingham, AL 35207 80%214$31,486$80,300$69 smaller · younger residents
Gary, IN 46407 80%657$28,526$60,200$48 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
East Saint Louis, IL 62207 80%431$29,845$58,200$25 smaller
Shreveport, LA 71103 80%208$27,380$75,900— smaller · older residents · less walkable
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 80%164$37,528$80,000$31 younger residents · less walkable
Anniston, AL 36201 78%269$37,614$80,900$40 less walkable
Memphis, TN 38108 77%196$36,257$71,200$72 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35204 76%212$35,420$89,300$42 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35217 76%217$40,486$120,400$55 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70807 76%136$27,534$121,100$47 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents · less walkable
Monroe, LA 71202 76%108$28,213$83,600$66 younger residents · less walkable
Alexandria, LA 71302 76%150$34,669$110,000$56 pricier homes ($34K more) · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48234 75%799$35,322$61,200$54 larger · younger residents · older homes
Birmingham, AL 35211 74%210$34,884$96,200$75 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35218 74%209$30,739$92,600$58 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Mobile, AL 36617 74%169$40,900$75,400$36 smaller · older residents · less walkable
Anderson, IN 46016 74%591$36,029$78,500$46 younger residents · older homes
Kansas City, MO 64128 74%523$36,088$84,600$71 smaller · older homes

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.