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 39216

Jackson: median income $43,750, home value $245,500, $150/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 70%474$50,102$162,000$185 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Houghton, MI 49931 63%1,025$50,408$232,800$162 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35205 62%211$51,158$293,800$235 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bloomington, IN 47408 62%519$45,644$346,900$188 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger · younger residents
Orono, ME 04473 61%1,439$61,528$272,600$198 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · younger residents
Urbana, IL 61801 60%548$36,180$177,100$158 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87106 60%963$49,781$354,200$242 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger
Laramie, WY 82072 59%1,051$53,863$324,100$200 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · younger residents
Athens, OH 45701 58%660$53,075$227,400$153 larger · younger residents
Clemson, SC 29631 57%453$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($155K more) · larger · younger residents
Lawrence, KS 66044 57%542$55,955$235,000$199 larger · younger residents
Little Rock, AR 72202 57%205$50,899$262,500$149 larger · older residents · more renters
Syracuse, NY 13210 56%1,063$41,738$173,600$148 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Columbus, GA 31901 56%303$51,424$226,500$132 larger · older residents · older homes
Vermillion, SD 57069 56%811$53,327$231,200$142 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Alfred, NY 14802 55%964$40,489$170,800$101 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35212 55%215$36,633$232,100$188 larger
Omaha, NE 68131 55%695$48,925$227,200$161 larger · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Omaha, NE 68132 55%695$68,221$333,900$193 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74135 55%419$62,694$248,600$166 larger · older residents
Oxford, OH 45056 54%581$49,233$250,700$188 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Fargo, ND 58102 54%1,067$59,533$242,200$144 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73103 54%474$54,561$441,500$221 pricier homes ($196K more) · larger · older homes
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 53%625$44,198$221,000$154 larger
Columbia, SC 29205 53%542$64,231$349,700$234 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.