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 Meridian, MS 39305

Meridian: median income $67,712, home value $172,400, $22/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Odessa, TX 79764 77%805$65,170$143,500— cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Andrews, TX 79714 76%808$72,242$195,700— younger residents
Charleston, WV 25306 75%572$71,654$109,800— cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · older residents
Ulysses, KS 67880 73%799$66,923$110,700— cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Midland, TX 79703 68%787$77,285$224,000— pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Monahans, TX 79756 66%835$67,468$160,600— smaller · more walkable
Minford, OH 45653 65%552$82,125$176,100— smaller · more homeowners
Garrison, TX 75946 65%345$58,177$151,800— smaller · older residents
Center, TX 75935 64%325$49,239$111,500$28 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024 64%1,055$60,727$168,400— smaller
Hogansburg, NY 13655 63%1,146$52,309$191,100— smaller · newer homes
Volant, PA 16156 62%758$69,054$221,400— pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Miles City, MT 59301 62%1,325$71,332$217,900— pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Goodland, KS 67735 62%871$61,042$136,400$30 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 61%139$61,333$200,000— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Odessa, TX 79763 61%804$56,877$132,500— cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Albion, IL 62806 60%411$66,776$120,800— cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Duncan, AZ 85534 60%1,193$76,250$167,800— smaller · older residents
Alexandria, PA 16611 59%811$70,887$167,500— smaller · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Jamesville, NC 27846 59%712$55,147$99,300— cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Cherokee, NC 28719 59%373$60,658$188,400— smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Louisville, IL 62858 59%438$66,319$150,600$40 smaller
Norris City, IL 62869 59%383$62,159$119,500— cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Portageville, MO 63873 59%282$54,362$128,400$26 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Coolidge, TX 76635 59%469$62,031$153,300— smaller · 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.