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 Bay Springs, MS 39422

Bay Springs: median income $51,670, home value $88,300, $82/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aulander, NC 27805 96%751$52,679$99,400$97 smaller
Parrish, AL 35580 93%168$52,135$101,600$97 Very close on everything we compare
Samson, AL 36477 93%195$50,517$115,400$81 pricier homes ($27K more)
Shelburn, IN 47879 92%510$54,750$93,500$102 smaller
Calico Rock, AR 72519 92%334$48,438$125,900$100 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Mansfield, AR 72944 92%358$46,419$117,400$86 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Clintwood, VA 24228 91%528$49,116$113,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Kinston, AL 36453 91%189$54,485$108,900— smaller
Eubank, KY 42567 91%452$46,526$105,000$113 Very close on everything we compare
Foreman, AR 71836 91%323$51,271$90,500$81 younger residents
Castlewood, VA 24224 90%522$49,894$120,200$112 pricier homes ($32K more)
Sugar Grove, VA 24375 90%557$53,571$75,200$93 smaller
Cowen, WV 26206 90%664$44,042$78,400$76 smaller
Wrightsville, GA 31096 90%384$46,282$91,300$75 larger
Elba, AL 36323 90%189$45,819$118,400$84 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Pound, VA 24279 89%518$43,602$97,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Genoa, WV 25517 89%575$44,696$94,200$86 smaller
Wayne, WV 25570 89%579$48,947$107,100$119 Very close on everything we compare
Rison, AR 71665 89%217$53,472$140,100$77 pricier homes ($52K more)
Marshall, AR 72650 89%337$46,295$93,800$110 Very close on everything we compare
Wilson, OK 73463 89%498$55,833$109,100$107 younger residents
Quapaw, OK 74363 89%466$55,524$113,700$103 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Friendship, NY 14739 88%934$57,794$78,600$86 smaller · older homes
Hinsdale, NY 14743 88%924$57,244$94,500$69 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
North Tazewell, VA 24630 88%567$57,254$107,100$96 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.