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 39307

Meridian: median income $30,413, home value $91,300, $34/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shreveport, LA 71109 89%295$32,939$93,600$37 more renters
Lake Providence, LA 71254 89%146$31,433$107,100— smaller
Pine Bluff, AR 71601 86%226$37,528$80,000$31 more single-family homes
Dumas, AR 71639 86%190$37,173$85,700$44 smaller
Anniston, AL 36201 84%190$37,614$80,900$40 5 min longer commute
Alexandria, LA 71302 83%229$34,669$110,000$56 Very close on everything we compare
Baton Rouge, LA 70805 81%193$25,397$108,500$47 larger · more renters
White Castle, LA 70788 80%210$33,079$138,100$33 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70807 80%192$27,534$121,100$47 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min longer commute · more renters
Caruthersville, MO 63830 79%268$36,979$121,300$58 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Hayti, MO 63851 79%273$28,705$77,600$45 smaller · younger residents
Monroe, LA 71202 78%194$28,213$83,600$66 larger
Warren, AR 71671 78%211$43,419$101,200$36 smaller
Marianna, AR 72360 77%203$22,574$68,800— smaller
Shreveport, LA 71103 74%293$27,380$75,900— smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Tallulah, LA 71282 74%135$35,244$97,400$73 smaller
Harlan, KY 40831 73%431$35,404$89,100$68 smaller
Forrest City, AR 72335 73%217$40,400$95,400$69 Very close on everything we compare
Tulia, TX 79088 73%767$35,804$82,800$57 smaller · more single-family homes
Macon, GA 31206 72%296$30,042$90,200$71 larger
Montgomery, AL 36108 72%140$33,291$73,800$57 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Selma, AL 36703 72%101$32,227$79,200$26 smaller · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Gary, IN 46407 72%641$28,526$60,200$48 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
West Helena, AR 72390 72%186$38,294$64,700$54 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · younger residents
Oglethorpe, GA 31068 71%272$30,352$69,400— smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.