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 Columbia, MS 39429

Columbia: median income $46,401, home value $141,700, $87/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Abbeville, LA 70510 94%171$49,717$147,600$81 Very close on everything we compare
Chapmanville, WV 25508 93%641$48,144$133,900$82 smaller
Doniphan, MO 63935 93%377$42,985$124,600$113 smaller
Jeanerette, LA 70544 93%145$54,601$117,200$104 smaller
Saint Martinville, LA 70582 93%137$49,837$163,300$113 Very close on everything we compare
Marksville, LA 71351 93%135$46,378$152,900$89 Very close on everything we compare
Woodville, TX 75979 93%275$51,594$161,400$121 Very close on everything we compare
Jennings, LA 70546 92%184$52,229$153,100$106 Very close on everything we compare
Opp, AL 36467 91%209$41,708$121,200$89 smaller · older residents
Kaplan, LA 70548 91%173$51,875$121,600$97 smaller
Opelousas, LA 70570 91%145$44,612$142,800$114 larger
Ville Platte, LA 70586 91%152$40,129$147,000$71 Very close on everything we compare
Philippi, WV 26416 90%775$54,741$152,200$113 smaller
Fayette, AL 35555 90%204$47,020$119,300$74 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Piedmont, AL 36272 90%301$51,635$142,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Eight Mile, AL 36613 90%101$52,080$144,200$108 5 min shorter commute
Manchester, KY 40962 90%533$42,852$103,000$96 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Olive Hill, KY 41164 90%615$53,579$120,100$81 Very close on everything we compare
Licking, MO 65542 90%448$46,076$118,600$115 smaller
Lonoke, AR 72086 90%273$58,743$148,600$101 Very close on everything we compare
Malvern, AR 72104 90%277$54,774$127,700$116 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Olive, NC 28365 89%729$52,174$138,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Sylvania, GA 30467 89%490$46,909$126,700$125 Very close on everything we compare
Russellville, AL 35653 89%255$52,600$122,300$123 younger residents
Elba, AL 36323 89%220$45,819$118,400$84 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter 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.