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 Preston, MS 39354

Preston: median income $66,758, home value $107,300, 45-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rayle, GA 30660 89%345$54,234$107,100$99 smaller
Patriot, OH 45658 89%542$64,162$116,600— Very close on everything we compare
Honoraville, AL 36042 87%158$61,120$111,000— younger residents
Bivins, TX 75555 86%308$58,750$112,100— more apartments and townhomes
Elora, TN 37328 84%205$64,550$146,200$189 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Wallingford, KY 41093 83%479$60,350$123,800$131 6 min shorter commute
Topmost, KY 41862 83%460$68,969$88,100$51 smaller · younger residents · more renters
Otway, OH 45657 83%518$63,459$117,500$154 more renters
Plymouth, IL 62367 83%528$58,000$126,700— 5 min shorter commute
Bellevue, TX 76228 83%541$69,250$171,200$176 pricier homes ($64K more)
Wagram, NC 28396 82%559$63,250$158,900$179 pricier homes ($52K more) · more renters
Moscow, TX 75960 82%379$64,300$113,000$233 6 min shorter commute
Fairview, WV 26570 81%666$71,048$155,800$158 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fairmount, IL 61841 81%497$64,792$127,200$158 smaller · older homes
Polo, MO 64671 81%546$75,455$173,200$249 pricier homes ($66K more)
Hubbard, TX 76648 81%471$54,669$132,000$120 larger
Lott, TX 76656 81%496$70,703$128,200$116 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Mount Lookout, WV 26678 80%576$64,375$121,500$178 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Bloomington Springs, TN 38545 80%293$59,512$118,100$150 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Florien, LA 71429 80%292$58,601$111,700$135 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Ore City, TX 75683 80%344$65,240$113,300$115 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Shelbyville, TX 75973 80%311$67,023$130,800— older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Thoreau, NM 87323 80%1,117$51,616$138,200$32 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Glenfield, NY 13343 79%1,044$70,478$163,600$236 pricier homes ($56K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Victor, WV 25938 79%569$59,833$99,300— 5 min shorter commute · more renters

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.