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 Decatur, MS 39327

Decatur: median income $57,667, home value $156,500, $113/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake City, AR 72437 88%246$60,714$160,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Colbert, OK 74733 88%438$65,875$162,100$123 older residents
Perkins, OK 74059 87%515$51,679$201,900$158 pricier homes ($45K more)
Cass Lake, MN 56633 86%1,070$67,981$166,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Emerson, AR 71740 86%241$65,455$168,300$149 smaller
Roff, OK 74865 86%470$65,000$132,900$117 smaller
Coolidge, TX 76635 86%444$62,031$153,300— smaller
Howe, OK 74940 85%362$50,677$130,700$141 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Dalzell, SC 29040 84%512$65,978$162,100$161 larger
Bidwell, OH 45614 84%590$60,000$162,300$161 more apartments and townhomes
West Point, GA 31833 83%234$61,348$172,200$143 larger · older residents
Weaver, AL 36277 83%212$62,610$159,000$117 older residents · older homes
Wellington, AL 36279 83%210$53,024$159,100$131 older residents
Cascade, IA 52033 83%689$69,023$214,100$127 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Woodlawn, IL 62898 83%411$74,297$158,800$121 smaller · older residents
Crocker, MO 65452 83%420$60,350$130,500$130 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
Dixon, MO 65459 83%418$66,385$167,300$116 larger · older residents
Forest Hill, LA 71430 83%222$63,636$180,300$130 smaller · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
London, AR 72847 83%313$61,158$161,200$170 older residents
Mooreland, OK 73852 83%636$66,229$161,200$88 smaller · older residents · older homes
Port Crane, NY 13833 82%995$60,409$130,000$116 cheaper homes ($27K less)
New Hope, AL 35760 82%214$71,622$172,600$186 older residents
Auburn, KY 42206 82%336$66,815$167,700$171 older residents
Upton, KY 42784 82%392$68,699$178,100$153 older residents
Owensville, IN 47665 82%411$68,625$200,300$119 pricier homes ($44K more) · 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.